Falcons Head East Looking For 20-Win Season

Bowling Green (18-8, 5-7 MAC) at Buffalo (10-16, 3-9 MAC)
Nov. 4, 7 p.m.
All-Time Series History: BGSU leads 21-3 (Streak/Buffalo 1 win)
Live Stats

Bowling Green (18-8, 5-7 MAC) at Akron (4-21, 1-11 MAC)
Nov. 5, 5 p.m.
All-Time Series History: BGSU leads 28-15 (Streak/BGSU 1 win)
Live Stats/Live Video

The Bowling Green volleyball team has the opportunity to earn 20 wins on the year and clinch a bid to the MAC Tournament this weekend on the road. The Falcons will play at Buffalo Friday night and then at Akron Saturday. Bowling Green sits ahead of both teams in the Mid-American Conference East Division standings. The Falcons lost to Buffalo in five sets earlier this year but defeated Akron in straight sets.

FOLLOWING THE FALCONS
If you can't be in the arena with the Falcons, you can still catch all the action. Friday night's match at Buffalo will be available via live stats through a link made available on BGSUFalcons.com. Saturday's match at Akron will be available via live stats and live video through links on BGSUFalcons.com. As always, fans are encouraged to follow along on twitter through the official twitter page of BGSU Athletics (@BGAthletics) and/or via volleyball SID Jason Knavel (@jknavel).

THE OPPONENTS
Since defeating Bowling Green in five sets on Oct. 1, Buffalo is just 1-7 with a lone five-set victory over Akron. Overall, Buffalo is 10-16 and 3-9 in MAC play. The Bulls, however, could still get back into the race for one of the final two spots in the MAC Tournament by knocking off the Falcons Friday night. For Buffalo to do that, the team will need to rely on its defense at the net and its serving game, in which the team ranks second in the MAC in both blocks and aces. Sophomore Carissa McKenna jump starts the defense at the net, averaging 1.01 blocks per set. Another sophomore, Dani Reinert, has a team high 30 aces. Head coach Todd Kress is in his third year at Buffalo with a record of 44-48 during his tenure.

Akron heads into the weekend at just 4-21 and 1-11 in MAC play and is on a six-match losing streak. The Zips are at their best blocking at the net and rank eighth in the conference in that category. Senior Courtney Jarvis is the team's top hitter, averaging 3.33 kills per set. Junior Morgan Kuhn has handed out 9.83 assists per set. Head coach Ron Arenz is in his fourth season with the Zips, posting a career mark of 44-73.

BREAKING DOWN THE MAC
At 5-7 in Mid-American Conference play, Bowling Green has sole possession of second place in the East Division and ranks seventh overall, one game ahead of Toledo and two in front of both Miami and Buffalo. The Falcons hold the tiebreak advantage over Toledo and Miami, but would currently lose a tiebreak to Buffalo. The top eight teams advance to the MAC Tournament at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio Nov. 18-20.

MAC Standings
1 – Ball State 11-1 (West Leader)
T2 – Northern Illinois 10-2
T2 – Western Michigan 10-2
4 – Ohio 9-3 (East Leader)
T5 – Eastern Michigan 7-5
T5 – Central Michigan 7-5
7 – Bowling Green 5-7
8 – Toledo 4-8
T9 – Miami 3-9
T9 – Buffalo 3-9
11 – Kent State 2-10
12 – Akron 1-11

MOST IMPROVED
With a 10-win increase over a year ago, Bowling Green has been the most improved team in the Mid-American Conference this year and head coach Denise Van De Walle must be considered as a Coach of the Year candidate in her final season at Bowling Green. In fact, the Falcons are the only team in the MAC that has exceeded its win total from a year ago at this time. Two other teams have equaled their win total from 2010. Listed below are the MAC teams that have won more matches than a year ago or equaled the total:

Team                                     2010 Record       2011 Record       Improvement
Bowling Green                  8-24                       18-8                       +10
Miami                                   12-21                     12-14                     0
Central Michigan              14-15                     14-9                       0

WINNING!
Bowling Green's 12-match win streak to start the year was the third-longest in program history and the longest to open a season, surpassing the 1990 team's 10-0 mark. The run trailed only a 17-match string in 2006 and a 16-match unbeaten stretch in 2007.

Win Streak (Year)
17 (2006)
16 (2007)
12 (2011)
11 (1991/1977)
10 (1992/1991/1990/1989)
9 (1987)

OPENING STROH
The opening match in the Stroh Center is one that will go down as one of the great moments in Bowling Green volleyball history. Not only did the Falcons stun Michigan State in four sets, but a record crowd of 2,961 fans watched that match. Spurred on by that total, Bowling Green's average home attendance of 716 ranks as the fourth-best in the Mid-American Conference this year. The 2,961 attendance is the single-match high for any game featuring a MAC team this year, home or away.

PENROD/TONYAN WITH 20 KILLS EACH
Prior to the month of October, Paige Penrod and Danielle Tonyan had never posted 20 or more kills in the same match. However, the duo reached that mark in back-to-back matches against Buffalo and Miami. Penrod and Tonyan had 22 and 21 kills in a five-set loss to Buffalo and then had 20 apiece in a five-set victory over Miami. It is the first time BGSU teammates recorded 20 kills in the same match since Kaitlyn Jackson and Corey Domek had 24 and 23 in a five-set win over Kent State on Nov. 12, 2009. They are the first teammates to do it in back-to-back matches since Caty Rommeck and Kristin Gamby achieved the feat Nov. 20-23, 2001.

BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Erica Fullenkamp has recorded double-doubles in each of the team's last two matches (13 assists/10 digs vs. Kent State and 21 assists/13 digs vs. Ohio) to become the third Falcon to have back-to-back double-doubles this year. Laura Avila did that against Wright State (25 assists/10 digs) and Akron (26 assists/10 digs) earlier this year. Paige Penrod followed that up with double-doubles in consecutive matches against Buffalo (22 kills/12 digs) and Miami (20 kills/13 digs). Penrod is the last player to record double-doubles in three straight matches when she did it against Eastern Michigan (10/16/10), Cleveland State (10/19/10), and Toledo (10/22/10).

PACE LAP
The Falcon middles, Emily Kauth and Kari Galen, are on pace to post some impressive hitting stats. At her current pace, Kauth would post the fifth-best hitting percentage in school history at .343. As well, Galen's .332 hitting percentage would rank eighth all-time.

DUNN IS DIGGING IT
Ashley Dunn's 3.97 digs per set this year is on pace for the ninth-best season in school history. She has 14 straight double-digit dig matches and has reached at least 10 in 21 of the past 22 matches total. She is averaging 4.30 digs per set against Mid-American Conference opponents.

A SIMPLE FORMULA
If a team can hit better than its opponent, in most cases that team is more likely to win. For Bowling Green, that's proving to be true. The Falcons rank second in the MAC in hitting percentage (.249) and ninth in opponent's hitting percentage (.217). Those numbers stand in stark contrast to a year ago when Bowling Green ranked dead last in the 12-team MAC in hitting percentage and 11^th in opponent's hitting percentage.

THE DYNAMIC DUO
Bowling Green has one of the most talented attacking duos in the Mid-American Conference in sophomores Paige Penrod and Danielle Tonyan. The pair is the only set of teammates in the MAC to both rank in the top 10 in the league in kills and points. Tonyan is third in kills at 3.81 per set and fourth in points at 4.21 per set. Penrod ranks 10th in kills (2.97 per set) and ninth in points (3.56 per set).

THE DYNAMIC DUO, PART TWO
While Paige Penrod and Danielle Tonyan crush the ball on the outside, teammates Emily Kauth and Kari Galen hit with precision from the middle. Kauth ranks second in the MAC with a .343 attack percentage and Galen is fifth at .332. No other duo ranks in the top five in the league in hitting percentage.

COMPARING THE MAC
Here are Bowling Green's rankings in the MAC as a team and as individuals:

Team
Hitting Percentage – 2. Bowling Green .249
Opponent Hitting Percentage – 9. Bowling Green .217
Assists/Set – 4. Bowling Green 12.65
Kills/Set – 4. Bowling Green 13.57
Blocks/Set – 10. Bowling Green 1.77
Aces/Set – 4. Bowling Green 1.37
Digs/Set – 11. Bowling Green 12.86

Individuals (Top 10 Rankings)
Hitting Percentage – 2. Emily Kauth .343; 5. Kari Galen .332
Kills/Set – 3. Danielle Tonyan 3.81; 10. Paige Penrod 2.97
Aces/Set – 3. Paige Penrod 0.35; 4. Laura Avila 0.32
Digs/Set – 7. Ashley Dunn 3.97
Points/Set – 4. Danielle Tonyan 4.21; 9. Paige Penrod 3.56

Team (MAC Only)
Hitting Percentage – 6. Bowling Green .230
Opponent Hitting Percentage – 12. Bowling Green .270
Assists/Set – 5. Bowling Green 12.85
Kills/Set – 5. Bowling Green 13.59
Blocks/Set – 12. Bowling Green 1.27
Aces/Set – 4. Bowling Green 1.15
Digs/Set – 10. Bowling Green 13.61

Individuals (Top 10 Rankings) (MAC Only)
Hitting Percentage – 8. Emily Kauth .329
Kills/Set – 3. Danielle Tonyan 4.07
Aces/Set – 9. Laura Avila 0.26
Digs/Set – 7. Ashley Dunn 4.30
Points/Set – 4. Danielle Tonyan 4.26

AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS
Bowling Green has thrived on hitting the ball at a high rate and rank 32nd in the country in attack percentage, out of 322 teams. Complete national rankings are listed below:

Team (Out of 322)
Win/Loss Percentage – 66. Bowling Green, .692
Aces/Set – 86. Bowling Green, 1.37
Assists/Set – 59. Bowling Green, 12.65
Blocks/Set – 221. Bowling Green, 1.77
Digs/Set – 281. Bowling Green, 12.86
Hitting Percentage – 32. Bowling Green, .249
Kills/Set – 60. Bowling Green, 13.57

Individuals (Top 250 Ranked)
Aces/Set – 101. Paige Penrod, 0.35; 152. Laura Avila, 0.32
Blocks/Set – 234. Kari Galen, 0.93
Digs/Set – 194. Ashley Dunn, 3.97
Hitting Percentage – 72. Emily Kauth, .343; 94. Kari Galen, .332; 80. 185. Danielle Tonyan, .302
Kills/Set – 74. Danielle Tonyan, 3.81
Points/Set – 88. Danielle Tonyan, 4.21

PULLING RANK
Following Bowling Green's 12-0 start, the Falcons found themselves receiving recognition nationally. Bowling Green earned six votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll which was released on Monday, Sept. 19. The Falcons were one of only two Mid-American Conference schools to earn votes in that poll as Northern Illinois had four votes.

FOUR OF A KIND
In the first four weeks of the 2011 season, Bowling Green won four tournament trophies. The Falcons went 2-0 at the hurricane-shortened Kristen Dickmann Invitational, hosted by Navy, to earn the tournament championship. The team then went to Tampa, Fla., and won the USF Volleyball Invitational with a record of 4-0. Finally playing at home, the Falcons went 3-0 in the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. Bowling Green closed out the pre-conference tournament slate with a 3-0 mark at the Bucknell Invitational for a fourth tournament championship. It is the first time in program history that the team has won four regular season tournaments in one year.

M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P
In all three tournaments to open the year, a Bowling Green player earned tournament MVP honors. In the fourth, a tournament MVP was not officially named. Danielle Tonyan earned the award at the Navy Invitational after posting 16 kills with a .536 attack percentage in a three-set sweep of Air Force and adding 11 kills, three aces, and two blocks in a sweep of Navy. Kari Galen was then named MVP of the USF Volleyball Invitational after posting 26 blocks in four matches, including a career-high 10 against Eastern Kentucky. She also had 29 kills and hit at a .386 clip. Paige Penrod followed up those performances with an MVP weekend in the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. She had at least 16 kills in all three matches and a total of 54. She averaged 4.91 kills per set, 2.36 digs and serve received at a .972 rate. In the final tournament of the year, Galen again dominated, hitting a remarkable .676 with just one attack error in three matches.

ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Along with the tournament MVP awards, the Falcons have raked in all-tournament trophies as well. Emily Kauth earned the award in each of the team's first three tournaments. Along with being MVP of the Navy Invitational, Danielle Tonyan was named all-tournament at the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. Kari Galen also earned two all-tournament awards, earning MVP honors in the USF Volleyball Invitational and all-tournament honors in the Bucknell Invite. Ashley Dunn, Paige Penrod, and Laura Avila each earned all-tournament honors once this year.

FROM MVP TO PLAYER OF THE WEEK
All three Falcons who earned tournament MVP honors followed that up with Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors as well. Danielle Tonyan and Paige Penrod were named MAC East Offensive Players of the Week and Kari Galen earned the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week award.

YET A FOURTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Danielle Tonyan was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week for second time this year on Monday. She had 25 kills in two matches during the opening weekend of conference play.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK SWEEP
Following those four MAC Players of the Week, Emily Kauth and Ashley Dunn swept the MAC East Division Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards on Oct. 24. The honors mean that five different players have been named a MAC Player of the Week during the season.

ONLY THREE OF THE CURRENT PLAYERS WERE EVEN BORN THEN
It's was 21 years since the BGSU volleyball team had opened a season with a 10-0 record. In 1990, the Falcons went 10-0 before eventually losing to Michigan State. On the way to this year's 12-0 start, the Falcons defeated Michigan State for their seventh win of the year, posting a four-set victory over the Spartans in the first athletic event ever held in the Stroh Center.

FIVE-SET SPECIALISTS
In recent history, Bowling Green has thrived in five-set matches, posting a .500 record or better in such contests every year since 2005. Overall, the team is 29-13 in such matches since 2005 and, even more impressively, 25-9 in the past five years. This year, the Falcons are 3-3 in five-setters, beating Eastern Kentucky, Maryland Eastern Shore and Miami. The team's five-set losses have come against Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Ohio.

Bowling Green's Record In Five-Set Matches Since 2005
2011: 3-3
2010: 2-2
2009: 6-2
2008: 9-1
2007: 5-1
2006: 2-2
2005: 2-2

DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Four active players have recorded at least one double-double in their career (posting at least 10 kills, digs, assists, blocks, or aces in a match in two of those categories). With five this year, Paige Penrod has a team-high 15 career double-doubles, followed by Laura Avila with nine, Erica Fullenkamp with four and Ashley Dunn with one.

Double-Doubles This Year
9/2/11 vs. Eastern Kentucky – Paige Penrod 10 kills, 10 digs
9/3/11 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore – Paige Penrod 17 kills, 11 digs
9/10/11 vs. SIU-Edwardsville – Paige Penrod 19 kills, 10 digs
9/27/11 at Wright State – Laura Avila 25 assists, 10 digs
9/30/11 vs. Akron – Laura Avila 26 assists, 10 digs
10/1/11 vs. Buffalo – Paige Penrod 22 kills, 12 digs
10/6/11 vs. Miami – Paige Penrod 20 kills, 13 digs
10/6/11 vs. Miami – Erica Fullenkamp 12 assists, 14 digs
10/14/11 vs. Central Michigan – Erica Fullenkamp 14 assists, 11 digs
10/15/11 vs. Eastern Michigan – Laura Avila 23 assists, 11 digs
10/28/11 vs. Kent State – Erica Fullenkamp 13 assists, 10 digs
10/29/11 vs. Ohio – Erica Fullenkamp 21 assists, 13 digs
10/29/11 vs. Ohio – Laura Avila 29 assists, 14 digs

20 KILLS OR 20 DIGS
With 23 kills against Ohio, Danielle Tonyan now has six career matches with at least 20 kills, while Paige Penrod has five. Ashley Dunn posted seven 20-dig matches a year ago and has added two more this year for nine total.

20 Kills This Year
9/9/11 vs. Michigan State – Danielle Tonyan, 22
10/1/11 vs. Buffalo – Paige Penrod, 22
10/1/11 vs. Buffalo – Danielle Tonyan, 21
10/6/11 vs. Miami – Danielle Tonyan, 20
10/6/11 vs. Miami – Paige Penrod, 20
10/21/11 at Toledo – Danielle Tonyan, 23
10/29/11 vs. Ohio – Danielle Tonyan, 23

20 Digs This Year
9/10/11 vs. SIU-Edwardsville – Ashley Dunn, 21
10/6/11 vs. Miami – Ashley Dunn, 21

VAN DE WALLE GOING OUT ON TOP
Last spring, Bowling Green head coach Denise Van De Walle announced that the 2011 season would be her last before she retires. With this year's 18-8 start, she has a career record of 526-373 and has been named MAC Coach of the Year four times. The Falcons have posted a record of 242-209 in conference action over the course of her career.

PENROD NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Sophomore outside hitter Paige Penrod was picked as a Preseason All-MAC East Division player by vote of the league coaches. Penrod joined Akron's Tina Dimitrijevs, Buffalo's Abby Niekamp, Miami's Cassie Farrell, and Ohio's Katie Post and Lexie Hartnett on the team.

FALCONS PICKED FIFTH
Bowling Green was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the preseason poll by vote of the league's coaches. Ohio was selected to win the East, followed by Miami, Akron, Buffalo, BGSU, and Kent State. In the West, Northern Illinois was picked to win, followed by Ball State, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Toledo.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Senior defensive specialist Madison Nitta represented the United States on the US Deaf Volleyball Team during the past summer. Nitta, who has profound hearing loss, was a key player as the United States won the 2011 Friendship Games in Washington, D.C. The USA defeated the Ukraine twice along the way to the championship, the first time in more than six years that the Ukraine had been defeated in international play.

THE NEW HOME
The volleyball and basketball teams will move into the Stroh Center this year, a brand new arena on the campus of BGSU. The Falcon volleyball team opened the arena with a win over Michigan State and is currently 6-4 at home this year.

HITTING THE BOOKS
Bowling Green has always stressed academics and Falcon volleyball has been a model of that philosophy. The 2010 BGSU volleyball team received the AVCA Academic Team Award for the 11th consecutive season, compiling a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better. The Falcons have the second longest streak in all of NCAA Division I and has received the award 12 times overall.

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