Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Florida A&M University
Falcons Tame the Rattlers to Wrap-Up the FSU Invitational
August 30, 2008 | Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2008
Florida State Box Score in PDF Format 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -
BGSU head coach Denise Van De Walle and the Falcons finished up the first weekend of play as they split their matches on day two of the Florida State Invitational. The Falcons started off the day against host FSU, falling 3-1 to the Seminoles. However the Orange and Brown bounced back to finish up the weekend by defeating the 2007 MEAC Champions, Florida A&M, 3-0, for their second sweep of the tournament and season. The Falcons demolished the BGSU match record for block assists in the a three game match recording 35 against the Rattlers. Two-time first team All-MAC selection Kendra Halm led the way with a career high 14 blocks setting a new BGSU three set record for total blocks and breaking the BGSU record, which she currently held, for block assists in a three set match with 13.
After leading the Falcons in all three matches this weekend Falcon middle hitters Kendra Halm and Shari Luther were named to the Florida State Invitational All-Tournament team after leading the Falcons with 31 kills a piece. Halm terminated 31 kills averaging 3.10 kills per game, hitting a .500 along with a team high 18 blocks averaging 1.80 per game. Halm posted a weekend and team high 14 kills with only two errors posting a .571 hitting percentage despite BG's, 3-1 loss to host FSU. Halm had an even better performance against the Rattlers post a new career best 14 blocks, setting a new BG record for total blocks and block assists in a three set match. Luther also posted big numbers the entire weekend at the net posting 31 kills averaging 3.10 kills per game and 13 blocks averaging 1.30 blocks per game, the second best of the weekend for the Falcons.
Against Florida State
Coach Van De Walle and the Falcons took on host Florida State in their first match of day two of the Florida State Invitational. Both the Falcons and the Seminoles came into the match 1-0 in the tournament and on the season. Despite a hard fought match the Falcons fell to the Seminoles, 3-1.
FSU took an early lead in set one of the match, 3-0 until Corey Domek terminated play to end their run. The set went back and forth until a kill from Halm sparked a four-point run and the lead for the Falcons. Once BG took the lead they never let it go, however FSU never gave up keeping the set close. With the Falcons up by three, 21-18 Luther came up with a big kill to side-out, which led to a three-point Falcon run that ended the first set, 25-18 in favor of the Falcons. The Falcons owned the net in set one posting a .500 hitting percentage with 14 kills and four blocks holding the Seminoles to a .156 hitting percentage.
The Seminoles came right back in set two with another hard fought battle. Neither team took more than a three-point lead at any time during the set. The Falcons were able to grab the lead early in the set but were not able to hold it for too long as the Seminoles took a 10-9 lead. The Falcons kept the set close but weren't able to over come the Seminoles in set two falling, 23-25.
The Seminoles took the momentum from the second set and kept things going on set three taking an early 10 point lead. The Falcons weren't able to find their rhythm in third set and lost 13-25.
The Falcons turned things around in the fourth set as they took an early, 7-0 lead over the Seminoles with Sam Fish at the service line. The seven point run included four kills from Luther, a kill from Meghan Mohr and block as Luther and Mohr teamed up to stuff FSU's Stephanie Neville. The Falcons maintained their lead but the Seminoles kept the set close. With the Falcons up by one 19-18 FSU put together a four point run to take the lead. BG was continued to fight bringing the set within one twice but weren't able to get past FSU dropping the fourth set, 25-22.
The Falcons had three players post double-digit kill performance, leading the way were middle hitters Halm with 14 kills, hitting a .571 and Luther with 13 kills. Also in double digits for the Orange and Brown was Domek with 10 kills. Sam Fish ran the offense for BG with 33 assists also recording eight digs and five kills with no errors good for a .833 hitting percentage. Chelsey Meek led the defense effort once again with 11 digs against FSU.
Falcon freshman Madison Nitta made her debut in Orange and Brown against the Seminoles recording her first collegiate dig.
Against Florida A&M
The Falcons finished up their first weekend of play with their second sweep of the season and tournament as they tamed the 2007 MEAC Champions, Florida A&M. The Falcons were a wall at the net posting a new program record for blocks in a three set match with 35. Halm led the way at the net collecting 14 total blocks, a career high and new BG record, she also broke the BG record that she held for block assists in a three set match as she posted 13 block assists against the Rattlers.
The Rattlers took an early 4-2 lead after stringing together a four-point run on the Falcons, however the Orange and Brown fired right back with their own four-point run to take a 7-5 lead. The first set remained very close until the Falcons pulled away recording six straight points, three of which were from double-blocks by Halm and Kaitlin Jackson, to take an 16-12 lead. The Rattlers tried to come back putting together a late five point run but Luther squashed their run as she terminated play with a kill. The Falcons took the last three points of the set finishing the first set with a kill from Domek, 25-21. The Falcons owned the net in the first set recording eight blocks and holding the Rattlers to a zero hitting percentage.
The Falcons attacked right away in the second set taking the first three points. The Falcons were able to side-out right away in the second stopping the Rattlers from scoring points in a row, until the very end of the set. The Orange and Brown took advantage of this putting together several runs. With BG up 6-4, the Falcons put up a triple block to stop Florida A&M's Samara Ferraz to start a four-point run, which included another triple block for the Orange and Brown. BG continued to score points in a row with two more four-point runs, giving them a 23-9 lead over the Rattlers. The Rattlers were able to string together four points at the end of the set until Halm put a way a kill to end the second set, 25-15.
The third set of the match the Falcons continued to dominate at the net. Luther terminated play with a kill on the first ball in set three to get the Falcons rolling on a five-point run. The Rattlers followed up themselves with a four-point run to keep the set close, however the Falcons extended their lead to nine with eight consecutive points, the longest run of the match. The Rattlers were able to come within six but the Falcons strung together another four-point run to take a 10-point lead, 19-9. The Falcons won the third set, 25-15 to pick up their second sweep of the tournament and season. The Falcons once again dominated the net with six and a half blocks holding the Rattlers to a -.233 hitting percentage.
The Falcons had everyone pitching in on offense with nine of the 11 players in the match recording at least one kill. Leading the way on offense were middle-hitters Halm and Luther once again each with seven kills. Halm also led the defensive effort at the net with a career high and new BG record 14 total blocks, 13 of which were block assists also a BG record.
Falcon newcomers Emily Kauth and Noelle Spitler both made their debut against the Rattlers. Kauth recorded her first collegiate block in the sweep over Florida A&M.
The Falcons will return to action on Friday (Sept. 5) at 5:00 p.m. as they take on Fairfield at the Temple Invitational.
Florida State Invitational All-Tournament Team
Jordana Price (Florida State) - MVP
Brianna Barry (Florida State)
Stephanie Neville (Florida State)
Kendra Halm (Bowling Green)
Shari Luther (Bowling Green)
Jovana Blazeski (Florida A&M)
Rebecca Orzechowicz (Stetson)
