BGSU Advances To MAC Tournament Semifinals With 3-1 Victory Over Western Michigan

Friday, November 18

DeKalb, Ill.

6:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

21-9

Western Michigan University

12-19

Western Michigan

Bowling Green

BGSU Advances To MAC Tournament Semifinals With 3-1 Victory Over Western Michigan

November 18, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

Audio: Coach Tomic

DEKALB, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team earned its first MAC Tournament victory since 2012 by defeating Western Michigan University, 3-1, Friday (Nov. 18) night at Victor. E Court in DeKalb, Illinois. Bowing Green won the match by a score of 22-25; 25-21; 25-18; 25-18.

In the match, senior libero Madeline Garda broke the single-season program record for digs. Garda notched her record-breaking 664th dig of the season early on in the first set.

With the victory, the Falcons advance to play Miami in the tournament semifinals tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET. After losing the first set, and trailing in the second set by a score of 19-18, Bowling Green rallied and secured the win by taking the final three sets of the match.

"I'm very happy with getting a win in the MAC Tournament," said head coach Danijela Tomic. "It's always really nice. The last time we were here in 2013, we lost in the first round. So this is a big success, and we are really proud with our performance today.

"We will see what happens tomorrow. We have nothing to lose. We are playing the No. 1 seed, and everyone is expecting Miami to advance. We are going to go for it, and compete, and play the best that we can. We will play with pride, and we will play together. Whatever happens in the end – that's what happens. That has been my message to the team – just no regrets."

WATCH: HC Danijela Tomic on @BGSUVolleyball's quarterfinal win. #MACtion pic.twitter.com/pLPkQBAkEw
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 19, 2016

Senior Jelena Sunjic led the way with 22 kills, and hit .327 (22-4-55) for the match. Sunjic has now had 20-plus kills in five of BGSU's last six matches. Sunjic also had four aces and four blocks. Madeline Brandewie added 11 kills and tied her career high with seven blocks.

Nicole Slimko hit .357 (7-2-14) and registered seven kills, while notching three blocks. Kallie Seimet had a nice match for the Falcons, and recorded three aces and a season-high 24 digs.
Alyssa Maloney contributed to the victory, as well, with eight kills, three digs, three blocks and two aces. Jessi Holly, who had three kills, tied her career high with four blocks.

WATCH: @BGSUVolleyball's Jelena Sunjic talk about the Falcons 3-1 win over WMU. #MACtion pic.twitter.com/1X3nnTF1iY
— #MACtion (@MACSports) November 19, 2016

Bowling Green will play Miami for the third time in 2016 tomorrow evening. Although the RedHawks swept the Falcons in both meetings, the Falcons have battled hard, and have been extremely competitive in the defeats. The Orange and Brown have scored at least 20 points in the six sets played against Miami this season.

With a victory, the Falcons will reach the MAC Tournament Championship Game for the second time under Coach Tomic. Bowling Green captured the MAC title that season by defeating Northern Illinois in five sets.