Bowling Green State University
BUFFALO
Falcons Corral Bulls, 3-1
October 11, 2008 | Volleyball
Oct. 11, 2008
BUFFALO, New York - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team continued their successful month of October extending their winning streak to four matches on the season and seven against Buffalo defeating them 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 27-29, 25-22) this evening (Oct. 11). The Falcons now 14-6 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference have won their last four MAC East Division matches. Much like last season's match-up against the Bulls tonight's match was another momentous night for one Falcon in particular. Senior libero Chelsey Meek reached a milestone that no other Falcon has been able to accomplish in program history as she recorded her 2,000 career dig in the Falcons three game sweep over the Bulls. Meek, currently ranked 26th in nation for digs, not only holds the BGSU record but is also now fifth in the MAC all time record books for career digs. Meek also currently leads all active players in the nation in consecutive matches with recording 10-plus digs as she extended her streak to 77 matches this weekend.
The Falcons came out strong in the first set as a kill from Meghan Mohr put BG on the scoreboard first. With the set tied up 4-4, Shari Luther and Corey Domek put up a big block to side-out for the Falcons, which led to five straight points for BG giving the Falcons a 9-4 lead over the Bulls. The Bulls came back with four points in row to cut the Falcons' lead to one, 9-8 but a kill from Mohr stopped the Bulls run. The Falcons maintained their lead the entire first set and were able to extended it to five, 18-13 after posting back-to-back runs, first a four-point run followed up by a three-point run. The Bulls continued to put up a fight but a kill from Luther sparked the Falcons once again scoring the last four points of the set to win, 25-17.
The Orange and Brown once again struck first in the second set but this time it was off of a service ace by Meek. The beginning of the set remained close with BG ahead of Buffalo but a kill from Kendra Halm started a three-point run to extend BG's lead to four, 7-3. The Bulls were able to side-out but the Falcons' other middle Luther was able to terminate play and to spark four straight points giving the Falcons a 12-6 lead over the Bulls. The Bulls never gave up and fired back with six straight points followed up by a three-point run to capture the lead, 15-14 over the Falcons. BG was able to keep the score close and answered back with a four-point run started by a kill from Domek to regain the lead for good in the second set, 20-17. With the set still close a kill from Mohr gave the Falcons set point, 24-20. The Bulls found a way to fight off one Falcon set point, but another Mohr kill finished the set 25-21 in favor of the Falcons.
With the Falcons up 2-0 in the match the third set started to look like the first two sets as a kill from Mohr put the Falcons on the score board first which led to five unanswered points, 5-0. BG held on to their lead as the set went back and forth but a three-point run by the Bulls cut BG's lead to one, 12-11. The Orange and Brown came right back to string together four straight points to extend their lead to six, 18-12. The set continued to go back and forth once again with the Falcons maintaining their lead until the Bulls were able to score six straight points to secure set point 24-23, despite two Falcon timeouts. Back-to-back kills from Halm sided-out for the Falcons and then put them ahead, 25-24 but the Bulls came right back once again. The set continued to go point for point until Buffalo was able to score the last two points winning the third set, 29-27.
The Bulls' momentum from the third set carried into the fourth set as they took and early 8-5 lead over the Falcons. BG cut Buffalo's lead to one, 10-9 after three straight points. The Falcons continued to chip away at the Bulls lead keeping the set close. Finally a kill from Domek sparked a three-point Falcon run to give BG the lead, 17-16. The Falcons sided-out right away to get the ball back and scored four straight points extending their lead to four, 21-17. The Bulls continued to fight trying to keep themselves in the set but a kill from Halm gave the Falcons match point, 24-21. The Bulls were able to side-out and stay alive but not for long as Kaitlin Jackson terminated a kill to end the set, 25-22 and give the Falcons the win.
The Falcon offense was once again led by the three big guns, Halm who terminated a match high 16 kills with one three errors good for a .419. Right behind her were Domek with 15 kills posting a .310 hitting percentage and Mohr with 14 kills on the night. Everyone got in on the defensive efforts for the Falcons with four players posting double-digit performances. With no surprise Meek led the way picking up 23 digs, with her first dig of the night becoming a very special one as she recorded her 2,000th career dig, the only Falcon in program history to accomplish such a feat. Meek holds the BGSU career record for digs and is now ranked fifth in the MAC all-time records. Also in double-digits on defense were Jackson and Sam Fish recording 12 a piece and Mohr with 10 for her sixth double-double of the season. Fish quarterbacked the offense handing out 47 assists to go with her double-digit dig performance to record her fourth consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.
"We were very excited to have three players with double digit kills and four players with double digit digs," said assistant coach Mark Hardaway. "Buffalo served and attacked the ball very aggressive tonight and I thought that we handled that pressure well. Meghan, Kendra, and Corey all did a great job of attacking the ball. It was great to have two players have double-doubles (Meghan and Sam)."
"The highlight of the night was Chelsey getting her 2,000 career dig. She played with a lot of intensity all weekend and provided strong leadership. Chelsey came to BG four years ago as a talented defensive player and she has developed into one of the best liberos in the MAC. She is ranked as one of the top liberos in the nation and is closing in on the MAC career record for digs. Her 2,000 digs are a testament to both her ability and her hard work. We are very proud of Chelsey."
The Falcons will return to action next weekend (Oct. 16 & 17) as they take on Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan in MAC cross-over play.
