Bowling Green State University
Rice
Falcons Drop Two Matches to End Opening Home Weekend
September 21, 2008 | Volleyball
Sept. 20, 2008
Hofstra Box Score in PDF Format 
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Falcon netters dropped two matches on the second day of the Best Western Invitational. BG's seven match winning streak was ended as they fell to Rice, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18) Saturday afternoon. The Falcons later dropped their second match of the day to the Hofstra Pride, 3-0 (22-25, 26-28, 20-25).
Senior libero Chelsey Meek was named to the Best Western Invitational All-Tournament Team for the third weekend in a row. She led the Falcon defense with 66 digs on the weekend. Meek has led the Falcon defense the entire season thus far posting double-digit dig performances in all of 15 of the Falcons' matches, including seven matches with 20-plus digs with a season high 28 twice this season.
"The weekend was great in some ways and disappointing in others," said Van De Walle". "It was so good to be home in Anderson Arena after being gone for two weeks. The team had been road warriors and they were so looking forward to playing at home. The Friday night match against Binghamton was exciting. Seeing the team in action was great for me. The next two matches weren't as great. We ran into a very good Rice team in the afternoon and got beat. In talking with Mark, Rob, Whitey and Dale, they all agreed that this tournament was the toughest of the three tournaments we had played in so far. Rice was very athletic and ran a faster offense than we have seen. They had kids hitting the ball quicker and from a higher point. Hofstra just outplayed us in the evening match. It was disappointing because we wanted to win our own invitational but we knew when we set it up it was going to be tough to do. We were excited to get teams of Rice and Hofstra's caliber to come to Bowling Green. Going 10-4 in the pre-conference portion of the schedule after losing five seniors is a good start. We're learning and growing each week. Mark, Rob, and Whitey did a great job training and coaching the team while I was in Beijing. I wasn't worried for a minute about how things would go. Also, the senior leadership on this team is terrific so there was no doubt it would go well."
"Now the focus is getting ready for a very tough MAC weekend. We seem to open up with Miami on the road every year. We'll have our hands full. They are the preseason conference champion, voted on by the coaches."
The Falcons will return to action on the road as they open their 2008 Mid-American Conference schedule against Miami on Thursday (Sept. 25) at 7:00 p.m.
Falcons vs. Rice
The Falcons seven-match winning streak was ended as they fell to the Rice Owls, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18) this afternoon (Sept. 20). The two evenly matched teams battled for nearly two hours but BG fell just short.
The first set was a close battle with neither team taking more than a two point lead. With the Falcons up 9-8 the Owls posted back-to-back three-point runs taking a four point lead. The Owls continued to hold their lead with another three straight points. The Falcons didn't give up battling back with points in a row but could only cut the Owls' lead to two, 20-22. The Falcons dropped the first set, 21-25.
The Orange and Brown started the set second off with consecutive four-point runs taking an 8-5 lead over Rice. The Falcons continued to score points in a row extending their lead to six 16-10 after a three point run. BG held the Owls to no more than two points in a row the rest of the set maintaining their lead. The Falcons won the second set 25-20.
Rice took an early lead in the third set after a four-point run, 5-1. The Falcons kept the set close within a few points until the Owls five straight points taking the biggest lead of the match, 20-12. However the Falcons answered right back with six straight points of their own to cut the Owls' lead to two, 18-20. The Falcons continued to fight but weren't able to overcome Rice's lead, falling, 25-21.
The fourth once again started off close, until Rice put together a five-point run to take a 12-8 lead. The Owls extended their lead with another later run, 20-12. Much like the third set the Falcons fought hard to the end posting four straight points to cut the lead to five but it wasn't enough to surpass the Owls.
The Falcon offense was lead by senior Meghan Mohr with 17 kills posting a .333 hitting percentage and recording her second consecutive double-double and fourth of the season also picking up 13 digs. Kendra Halm also terminated double-digit kills with 13 kills and only one error in 34 attempts good for a .353. Sam Fish dished out 40 assists while Meek picked up 28 digs.
Falcons vs. Hofstra
The Falcons dropped their last match of their opening weekend at home against Hofstra, 3-0 (22-25, 26-28, 20-25).
The Pride jumped out to an early lead 8-5 over the Falcons after a four point run in the first set. The Falcons were able to score points in a row keeping the set close. With the score 18-14 in favor of Hofstra the Falcons fought back with a kill from Kaitlin Jackson that led to a three-point run to come within one. The set remained close but the Pride defeated the Falcons, 25-22 in the first set.
The Falcons came out strong in the second set taking an early, 7-3 after six straight points all started by a kill from Corey Domek. The Pride answered back with a three-point run to cut the Falcons lead to one, 8-7. The Falcons once again extended their lead with a four-point run. The Falcons held their lead but the Pride continued to chip away at the Falcons lead and tied the second set up, 23-23. The Pride went ahead 24-23 for set point but a kill from Mohr got the side-out for the Falcons. Once again Hofstra went up one point for set point, 25-24 but a kill by Jackson kept the Falcons alive. The Falcons were able to fight of yet another Pride set point with a kill from Halm but Hofstra was able to score the last two points taking the second set, 28-26.
Once again the third set went back and forth to start off. However with the Falcons up 12-11, Hofstra went on a six-point run to take a five point lead. The Falcons were never able to catch the Pride even despite a late three point run dropping the third set and the match, 20-25.
Leading the way on offense for the Orange and Brown was Corey Domek with 12 kills. Meek once again posted double-digits on defense with 20 digs.
Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational All-Tournament Team
Karyn Morgan (Rice) - MVP
Jessica Holderness (Rice)
Tracey Lam (Rice)
Harmonie Calinda (Hofstra)
Monica Knight (Hofstra)
Chelsey Meek (Bowling Green)
Anna Lejina (Binghamton)
