Falcons Sweep Kent State At Home To Start Weekend Doubleheader

Friday, October 10

Bowling Green, Ohio

5 PM

Bowling Green State University

4-13, 1-4MAC

Kent State (Camper Reunion Day)

10-8, 2-3MAC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Kent State	18	19	16	0
Bowling Green	25	25	25	3

Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications

October 10, 2014 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore
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Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team didn't let a slow start to Mid-American Conference play affect their effort or preparation for Friday night's volleyball match against East Division rival Kent State. Despite starting MAC play with four consecutive losses, the Falcons dominated the Golden Flashes, which entered the match at 2-2 in league play, in impressive fashion, posting a 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 victory.

"After last week, I told them they were getting better," BGSU head coach Danijela Tomic said. "Every area of our game was getting better and it was just a matter of time. Finally, all the hard work they are putting in is paying off."

As important as getting a win was for the Falcons, the level of efficiency and the manner in which BGSU dismantled Kent State was impressive. Kent State was swept in three sets for just the second time this year and it was the first time in which the Golden Flashes did not reach 20 points in any frame. BGSU hit a season-best .287 and recorded 10 more kills than its opponent. It was Bowling Green's first three-set sweep of the season.

Bowling Green was able to rattle Kent State and score in big runs throughout the match. The first set was tied at 18-18 before the Falcons scored the final seven points and BGSU carried that momentum into the second. The team scored seven of the first eight points in the second frame and Kent State was never able to fully rebound.

While the Golden Flashes did get within two points in that second set, Bowling Green quickly answered with a 5-0 run started by back-to-back Jelena Sunjic kills followed by a Sunjic block assist (along with Alyssa Maloney).

After the intermission, Kent State looked as if it may have found some answers as the Golden Flashes quickly built a 5-2 third-set lead. But a Paige O'Connor kill and two Sunjic aces kick-started an 8-0 run that Kent State never recovered from. The Falcons led by at least three points the rest of the way and pulled away late for the match-clincher.

"Kent made a couple of runs in the second set and they started the third set really well," Tomic said. "We never let it get into our heads and we just kept playing. You can see that we are maturing slowly but surely. Our freshmen are getting the gist of what it takes to play Division I volleyball."

BGSU Volleyball improves to 4-0 all-time against Kent State in the Stroh Center. In fact, the Golden Flashes have never won an intercollegiate athletic contest of any type in the Stroh since the building opened in 2011, falling to 0-11 between volleyball and men's and women's basketball. Bowling Green has dropped only one volleyball set against Kent State in the Stroh Center.

Sunjic played a big role in keeping Kent State winless in the arena as she posted 15 kills, two aces, four digs and four blocks. All of that came in just her third match back after missing 13 in a row with an injury.

"I'm so happy for her," Tomic said. "She's only had two weeks of practice after missing four. She's going to get better but it was not only Jelena. Kelsey (Bates) had a great match, our defense and our serve receive were good. We can not win with one player. We need Jelena to perform well but we need to do it together as a team."

Bates added 12 kills and hit .476 for the match, while adding three blocks. Erica Fullenkamp handed out 37 assists in directing the team's best offensive performance of the year. Sophomore libero Madeline Garda had 15 digs, while Maloney led the way defensively at the net with five blocks. As a team, Bowling Green recorded 9.0 blocks and the team had a 44-41 edge in digs.

Kent State falls to 10-8 with the loss and 2-3 in MAC play. BGSU improves to 4-13 overall and 1-4 in conference. The Falcons will welcome defending MAC Champion Ohio to the Stroh Center Saturday at 5 pm. The Bobcats carry a record of 12-4 and 5-0 in league play into the contest.