Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Defeat Owls and Black Knights to Win the Temple Invitational
September 06, 2008 | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - The Falcons finished the Temple Invitational with two come from behind wins, defeating host Temple, 3-1 (25-27, 27-25, 28-26, 25-21) and Army, 3-2 (23-25, 28-30, 26-24, 25-22, 15-7) to win the Temple Invitational.
Against Temple
The Falcons started out day two of the Temple Invitational against host Temple defeating them 3-1 in a very evenly fought match. The Falcons came back from a one set deficit to win the next three sets and the match.
BG got off to slow start in the first set of the match as the Owls were able to score points in a row taking a 10-6 lead over the Falcons after a four-point run. The Falcons continued to fight keeping the Owls within striking distance. With the Falcons down 22-18, Meghan Mohr terminated play to spark a four-point BG run, bringing the Falcons within one, 22-21. The Falcons sided-out right away after a Kendra Halm kill, which led to three straight points, to give BG a 24-25 lead and set point. The Owls fought back to win the first set, 27-25.
The second set was another close match-up between the Falcons and the Owls. The Owls held the lead early on in the second set but the Falcons once again kept them close until Temple put together a three-point run to extend their lead to four, 13-9 over the Falcons. The Falcons answered right back with five consecutive points to tie the set up 15-15. The Owls strung together another three-point run to take a 21-17 lead over the Falcons. A Corey Domek kill stopped the Owls allowing the Falcons to score points in a row on the next three rotations. With the Owls up 25-24 Mohr terminated play for the side-out and tied the set up 25-25. The Falcons then scored the last two points of the set to win 27-25, tying the match up 1-1.
The third set of the match was neck-in-neck once again with 10 lead changes and 20 tied scores during the match. Neither team took more than a two-point lead at any time during the set. With the Falcons up 6-5 the Owls put together a three point run to take an 8-6 lead over BG. The Falcons sided-out and strung together their own three point run to regain the lead. The Orange and Brown put together another three-point run to maintain their lead, however the Owls remained close behind. As the set continued to go point for point the Owls scored three straight points despite two Falcon timeouts, taking a 24-22 lead. With set point on the line Domek came up with a kill to side-out for the Falcons which sparked a Falcon three-point run. The Owls were able to fight off a BG set point and tie the score up 25-25. The Owls then scored giving them set point, 26-25. The Falcons fought off the Owls' set point and then terminated play twice with a kill from Mohr and Shari Luther to end the third set, 28-26.
The fourth set started out to be another point for point battle, with the score 5-5 BG posted a four-point run to take a 9-5 lead over the Owls. The Falcons sided-out right away and scored three more straight points extending their lead to six, 12-6. However, this time Temple fired right back with their own three-point to cut the Falcons lead to three. The Orange and Brown tried to pull away from Temple extending their lead to six points after another three-point run, however once again the Owls came right back with their own three-point run. The Falcons once again extended their lead to five with three straight points. The Falcons defeated the Owls winning the fourth set, 25-21. "Temple was a very intense match that pitted their left side attack against our middle and right side attack," said assistant coach Mark Hardaway. "Kendra Halm, Shari Luther, and Meghan Mohr did an outstanding job of attacking the ball. In sets one and two Meghan Mohr was unstoppable. After dropping the first set 27-25, Meghan Mohr had six kills in seven swings to carry us to a 27-25 victory in the second set. After pulling out a 28-26 win in set three, our middle hitters (Kendra Halm and Shari Luther) took over and combined for nine of the team's 13 kills. It was very impressive to watch our two middles take over the match down the stretch."
The Falcons had three players post double-digit kill performances with Halm leading the way with 16 followed by Mohr with 13 and Luther with 10. Sam Fish ran the offense collecting 47 assists and six kills with no errors hitting a .500. Chelsey Meek led the Falcon defense with 17 digs followed by Mohr with nine, one dig shy of a double-double.
Against Army
Heading into the last match of the Temple Invitational Army was not only undefeated at the tournament (2-0) but also undefeated on the season (5-0). However that all changed after the Black Knights and the Falcons battled in a two-plus hour match, in which the Falcons came back from a two set deficit to defeat the Black Knights for the Temple Invitational Championship title.
Army came out firing in the first set taking an early, 8-5 lead over the Falcons after a four-point run. BG battled back to recapture the lead, 12-11 after scoring points in a row. Army put together a four-point run followed by a three-point run to take a 21-18 lead over the Falcons. The Orange and Brown continued to fight tying the first set up, 22-22 after four straight points but Army won the first set, 25-23.
Once again Army captured an early lead in the second set, 6-4 but the Falcons bounced right back put together the biggest run of the set with six straight points giving the Falcons a 10-6 lead. With the second set tied up 14-14 the set continued to go back and forth with neither team gaining more than a two point lead. The Black Knights ended up on top in the second set, 30-28.
Army struck first in the third set take the first two points but the Falcons strung together the next six points to take a 6-2 lead. The Black Knights answered back with three straight points to tie the set up 6-6. BG regained the lead after scoring points in a row but didn't hold it for long as Army posted back-to-back runs taking a 17-14 lead. The Falcons kept the set close chipping away at their lead. Domek terminated play for a kill to tie the game up 23-23 and give the Falcons the momentum they needed to string together three straight points. The Falcons defeated the Black Knights 26-24, in the third set as Mohr recorded a kill.
The fourth set was another point-for-point battle between the Falcons and the Black Knights. Neither team was able to pull away as other answered right back, keeping the match within two points at all times. With the Falcons down 12-13, a kill from Domek led to a Falcon three-point run. The Black Knights answered right back with their own four-point run, which the Falcons followed up with four consecutive points. With the set tied up 19-19 the Falcons won seven of the last 10 points to win the fourth set, 25-22 , forcing a fifth and final set.
Army took the first two points of the set but a kill from Luther ended their run sparking three straight points for the Falcons. With BG down 4-6, Mohr put away a kill giving the Falcons all the momentum they needed, which led to a six-point run. The Falcons sided-out right away and scored five straight points to win the fifth set, 15-7. The Falcons won 11 of the last 12 points, holding Army to four kills and a zero hitting percentage in the final set.
The Falcons handed the Black Knights their first loss of the season and tournament as BG won the Temple Invitational.
The Falcons had four players in double-digits on offense and defense. Halm once again led the Falcons with 15 kills and no errors, hitting a .484 and six blocks. Also posting double-digits for the Falcons were Domek, Mohr and Luther all with 13 kills each. Mohr also recorded 11 digs picking up her first double-double of the season. Leading the way for Falcon defense was Meek with 26 digs followed by Kaitlin Jackson with 12 and Susie Isphording with 11. Sam Fish dished out 51 assists against the Black Knights.
"The Army match was one of the most exciting matches I have been involved in," stated Hardaway." "Both teams played very well. It was a match filled with big time kills, phenomenal defensive rallies and two very determined teams. After dropping the first two sets 25-23 and 30-28 the team raised their game to a higher level. It was a hard fought set that went back and fourth. Midway through the fourth set Kendra Halm took over the match as she was responsible for scoring points 17 through 21 with two solo blocks and three kills. Corey Domek, Shari Luther, and Meghan Mohr all added kills to close out the 25-22 win. In set five we came out and were the more aggressive team. We put a tremendous amount of pressure on Army holding them to a .000 hitting percentage and it paid off with the 3-2 come from behind victory. The emotion and intensity of this match was so high with both teams fighting for each point. Chelsey Meek played outstanding defense and did a tremendous job of providing leadership. I am very proud of how this team came together this weekend. They fought hard and found a way to win the close sets. We played 19 sets in four matches with nine of those sets decided by two points. This team found a way to stay tough and make the big plays down the stretch. We put on a great performance and we were the team everyone was talking about."
"During the tournament there were many great moments and a great team effort," said Hardaway. "However, I have to compliment our three seniors. Not only did they step it up and play great volleyball but the leadership they provided was outstanding."
The Orange and Brown will return to action for a mid-week match against Oakland on Tuesday (Sept. 9) at 7:00 p.m. before they head to the Marquette Challenge on Friday (Sept. 12) to wrap-up their 11 match opening road trip.
