Volleyball's Record Night Unable to Edge RedHawks

Thursday, September 21

Oxford, OH

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-14-8; MAC

Miami

1-09-5; MAC

Bowling Green

Miami

Photo by: Larry Clapper

September 21, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

OXFORD, Ohio – The Bowling Green volleyball program opened Mid-American Conference play on the road Thursday evening as they faced off against defending MAC Champion Miami. Although junior libero Kallie Seimet set a program record and four Falcons earned double-digit kills, the RedHawks were able to edge the Falcons in a tough 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 27-29, 23-25) final in Millett Arena.

Box Score

Falcon Stat Facts

Junior libero Kallie Seimet tallied a total of 45 digs, averaging 11.25 digs per set. The mark is a new program record, after the Oregon, Ohio broke the one she set last weekend with 44 against Seton Hall. It is also the three-time MAC East Defensive Player of the Week's eighth 20+ dig match of the season.
A well-rounded Bowling Green offense featured four Falcons who tallied double-digit kills, in senior Nicole Slimko (14), junior Madeline Brandewie (12), sophomore Celena Kanagin (12) and freshman Jacqueline Askin (11).
Two Falcons marked double-doubles on the night, as sophomore setter Isabelle Marciniak posted 53 assists and 10 digs for her fourth of the year, and as freshman Jacqueline Askin earned 11 kills and 12 digs for her team-leading fifth double-double of the season.
It was Askin's seventh time this season marking double-digit kills, while she also led the team in service aces on the night when she notched three against the RedHawks. The three aces is a new match-high in her career for the Louisville, Ky. native.
Junior Madeline Brandewie posted a team-high .370 attack percentage as she earned 12 kills on the night.
The Falcons claimed the opening set by a score of 25-19, a game in which they hit .368 as a team. It is the highest team percentage for the Bowling Green squad since the second set (.436) against Northern Kentucky on Sept. 9.
Slimko stepped up offensively in the second set, after which she tallied eight kills and hit .467. On the night, the Crystal Lake, Ill. native ultimately completed the match with a team-leading 14 kills.
At the net, the Falcons marked 9.0 total team blocks, in which Marciniak and freshman Katie Kidwell each earned one solo block and five block assists apiece.
Bowling Green held the advantage over the RedHawks in kills (60-55), hitting percentage (.216-.168), assists (56-50) and digs (102-98), while the conference foes each marked 9.0 total team blocks.
On the night, the pair of conference rivals battled through a total of 33 tie score and 14 lead changes.

Play-by-Play

The Falcons had a strong start to the match, in which they were able to climb to a 7-2 lead in the opening set, forcing Miami to call a timeout after a block by Brandewie and Marciniak.
As the Falcons' offense carried a 20-13 lead, Miami called its second timeout. Brandewie led the team with four kills of a squad hitting .347.
After a lengthy review, the opening point of the second set was awarded to the Falcons. The Bowling Green squad went on to battle through 12 tie scores and five lead changes in a narrow second set, that Miami ultimately claimed by a score of 25-23.
Askin notched a pair of her aces against the defending MAC Champions to lift the Falcons to a 6-5 and 8-5 leads early in the second set. Askin continued to dominate at the line by earning her third ace of the night at a critical point in the second set to tie up the game at 16-16.
The marathon of a third set was filled with long rallies and persistence for each point. The Falcons fought to gain leads at 16-13, 19-14 that forced Miami to use both of its timeouts, although the RedHawks were able to rebound and claim the set 29-27.
The fourth set featured long rallies in which the Falcons had to battle through eight lead changes and four tie scores. Slimko's 13th kill of the night pushed Miami to call its second timeout as the Falcons were on a four-point run.
Despite the Falcons ultimately going on an eight-point scoring streak to regain the lead at 21-19, the Falcons were unable to seal the set as Miami rebounded for a 25-23 victory.

Coach Tomic's Take

"It's disappointing because we played so well most of the match. We executed our game plan closest to our list of preseason priorities of what we needed to do really well, but it just came down to closing the sets and us making unforced errors. We need to learn how to overcome the mental barrier, and need to learn how reframe that situation so that we embrace it to finish those sets. There were so many positives though. Less than a week ago we struggled on scoring, and tonight we had a much better serve receive and created opportunities. We have the ability, but it's just learning how to perform and execute when it matters the most. It's an area where we need to improve, but I'm fired up. We are on the verge of a breakthrough and being a very, very good team, and we'll move forward as we have another opportunity to earn our first MAC win at home on Saturday against Northern Illinois."

Up Next

The Falcons will open conference play at home when they welcome Northern Illinois to the Stroh Center on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. The match against the Huskies will serve as Fan Appreciation Night, in which the team will host a free youth clinic following the match for all children 13 and younger. For all the details and activities being held for Fan Appreciation Night, click HERE.

Follow the Falcons

For more information on the volleyball program, follow the Falcons on Facebook (Bowling Green State University Volleyball), Twitter (@BGSUVolleyball and @BGAthletics) and Instagram (bgsuvolleyball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.