Falcon Volleyball's Season Comes To A Close After Defeat To Bradley In NIVC First-Round Match

Thursday, November 29

AMES, IOWA

5:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

19-12, 13-3MAC

Bradley University

24-8, 13-5MVC

Bowling Green

Bradley

Falcon Volleyball's Season Comes To A Close After Defeat To Bradley In NIVC First-Round Match

November 29, 2018 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: by Edward Perez, BGSU Athletic Communications

AMES, Iowa – The 2018 volleyball season has come to an end for the Bowling Green State University Falcons after a tough loss in Thursday's (Nov. 29) National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) first-round match versus the Bradley Braves.

Set #1: 24-26 Set #2: 25-21 Set #3: 25-23 Set #4: 21-25 Set #5: 13-15

COACH TOMIC QUOTE
"This was a heartbreaking loss for our team because we all really wanted to extend our journey together. We were so close to winning a postseason match, but a very good Bradley team found a way to win the most important points in the fourth and fifth set.

This loss won't take taking away from this special team and what we have accomplished this season. Two more banners will be hanging in the Stroh Center as a result of a great season that we had, and the MAC Tournament is coming to BGSU next year.

I am thankful for our four seniors who have helped us build a championship culture, and were leaders and role models for our younger players. They will greatly be missed, but I have no doubt that great things are ahead of them because of the lessons they learned through volleyball, and their BGSU degree and experience."

HIGHLIGHTS
• Despite more errors than the Falcons from attack attempts, and from the service line, the Bradley Braves emerged victorious in their clash against the Falcons.
• The Braves were more persistent in attack, ending the match with 69 team kills in comparison to the Falcons' 55. Defensively, Bradley made no mistakes on block attempts, whereas the Falcons made three.
• The Falcons were close to winning the match near the end of the fourth set. The Orange and Brown led the match 2-1, and were up 21-19, before the Braves went on to score six consecutive points to win the set, and force a fifth.
• The Falcons trailed by four points in the fifth set with a score of 7-11. The Falcons managed to level the set at 13-13 and forced to the Braves to call a timeout; after regrouping, the Braves earned a kill and a service ace to win the match, and advance to the second round of the NIVC.

FALCON STANDOUTS
• Isabel Kovacic left it all on the court in the Falcons' final match of the season. The senior led the team's attack with 14 kills and only two errors, for a blistering average of .387 in attack efficiency.
• Madeline Brandewie also reached double- digit kills versus the Braves. The senior posted 10 kills, and ended with a swinging percentage of .308 in her final match as a Falcon.
• Senior Kallie Seimet averaged 6.6 digs per set from a total of 33 digs. The native of Oregon, Ohio ends the 2018 season with 766 total digs, and her playing career as a Falcon with 2,365 digs throughout her four years at Bowling Green.
• Isabelle Marciniak notched her 12^th double-double of the 2018 season versus the Bradley Braves. The junior posted 35 assists and 13 digs.