Bowling Green State University
AKRON
Senior Trio Leads Falcons to End Regular Season With a Win
November 15, 2008 | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team ended the 2008 regular season on a high note as the Falcon senior trio Kendra Halm, Chelsey Meek and Meghan Mohr led the team to a 3-1 victory over Akron (25-15, 27-25, 22-25, 31-29) this afternoon (Nov. 15) in their last career home match in Anderson Arena. The Falcons finished the regular season with a 23-8 overall record and a 12-4 record in the MAC, their third consecutive season of 20-plus wins.
The Falcons came out fired up in the first set as Corey Domek put them on the scoreboard first to open the match with a kill. The set remained close at the begin with the Falcons holding a small lead until a kill from Shari Luther sparked six straight points by the Falcons giving BG a 15-10 lead. The Falcon six-point run included a kill from Luther and Domek, two double-blocks from Luther and Domek and a service ace from Fish. The Falcons didn't let up putting together another big run with four straight points to extend their lead to nine, 21-12 over the Zips. The Falcon four-point run included two kills from Mohr and two double-blocks from Halm and Mohr. BG kept pushing only allowing the Zips three more points in the first set. The Falcons ended the set like they started it off of a kill from Domek, winning the first set 25-15. The Falcons owned the net in the first set terminating 17 kills and posting a .406 with four blocks compared the Zips eight kills and .100 hitting percentage.
The second set once again started off very evenly matched but the Zips were the first team to put together a three-point run taking a 10-6 lead over BG. The Falcons answered back with points in a row and their own three-point run to tie the set up 11-11. The set still remained close but Akron once again put together three straight points to take an 18-15 lead. The Falcons chipped away at the Zips lead tying the set up 23-23. The Zips were able to side-out and secure set point, 24-23 but a kill from Kaitlin Jackson tied the set up once again 24-24. BG then secured set point, 25-24 off of a huge block from Halm and Domek but the Zips were able to fight off set point once again tying things up. The Falcons sided-out right away with a kill from Halm and then won the second set 27-25.
Up two sets to none the Falcons took an early 3-0 lead in the third set but the Zips came right back with their own three-point run to tie the score up 3-3. The set once against went back and forth until the Zips put together another three-point run to take a 12-10 lead. The Zips extended their lead over the Falcons 19-15 after stringing together another three points. The Falcons kept the set close scoring points in a row followed up by their own three-point run, which included back-to-back kills from Domek to come within one of the Zips, 21-20. The Zips maintained their small lead and secured set point 24-21. The Falcons were able to fight off one Akron set point off of a kill from Mohr but they didn't have enough to get past the Zips in the third set falling, 25-22.
The Zips took their momentum from their win in the third set to take an early 5-0 lead over the Falcons but a kill from Luther stopped the Zips and gave the Falcons a side-out. The Falcons never gave up slowly chipping away at the Zips lead, eventually cutting it to two points after a three-point run started by back-to-back kills from Halm. The set remained close as the Falcons continued to score points in a row. After four straight unanswered points the Falcons came within one of the Zips, 12-11. The rest of the fourth set went back and forth but the Falcons were able to continue scoring more points in a row than Akron. The Zips were able to secure set point 24-23 but the Falcons were able to fight off set point tying the set up 24-24. The set continued to once again go point-for-point with the score tied up 28-28 a service ace from Sam Fish gave the Falcons set point once again but Akron was able to side out and tie the set up 29-29. A kill from Mohr secured set point for the Falcons, 30-29. With it being late in the fourth set the Falcons found themselves out of subs but that didn't affect them as defensive specialist Alex Zlabis came up huge with a kill to give the Falcons the fourth set, 31-29 and the match.
The Falcon offensive attack once again got everyone in involved with every player to reach the front row recording at least one kill on the night and three players posting double-digit kill performances. Leading the way for Falcon attack was Mohr with 22 kills, one shy of her career best, with a mere three errors posting a .422 hitting efficiency. Right behind her was fellow senior Halm terminating 17 kills and a .303 hitting percentage. Also in double-digits at the net was Domek with 14 kills on the night.
For the second straight match the Orange and Brown got everyone involved on defense as well with four players recording double-digits. With no surprise the Falcon defense was led by Meek picking up 23 digs, her 88th consecutive match of 10-plus digs, longest all-time in the nation. Also posting double digits on defense were Zlabis with a career high 16 digs, Mohr with 15 digs and Fish with 10 digs. At the net Luther led the defensive efforts with six blocks.
Mohr and Fish both picked up their ninth double-double of the season as Fish dished out 59 assists to go with her 10 digs and Mohr tallied a match high 22 kills to go with her 15 digs.
The Falcons will begin the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the five seed hosting #12 Buffalo on Tuesday (Nov. 18) at 7:00 p.m. in Anderson Arena. the MAC Tournament will then move to the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio, Friday (Nov. 21) through Sunday (Nov. 23).
