Volleyball Moves To 2-0 In MAC Behind Several Season-Best Performances

Saturday, September 25

Akron, OH

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

6-6,2-0MAC

Akron

6-8,0-2MAC

Bowling Green

Akron

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

Volleyball Moves To 2-0 In MAC Behind Several Season-Best Performances

September 25, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: by David Dietrich, BGSU Strategic Communications

AKRON, Ohio – The Bowling Green Falcons volleyball team (6-6, 2-0) defeated Akron (6-8, 0-2) in four sets in their second match of the weekend. This is the third consecutive victory for the Falcons, who now stand at 2-0 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. Two Falcons set statistical season-highs, with two more setting statistical career-highs.

How It Happened
Set 1: BGSU 25, Akron 10
Much like yesterday, the Falcons were in command during the first set. Holding an 8-6 advantage, the Falcons went on a 6-0 run, with Katelyn Meyer registering three kills. Akron temporarily halted the run after a BGSU attack error, but the Orange and Brown scored the next four points to take an 18-7 lead. After a Zips kill, the Falcons went on another run, this time scoring six unanswered points. Four of those points came on solo blocks, with Petra Indrova recording two and Katie Kidwell and Kat Mandly each tallying one. The Zips answered a Julia Walz ace with two points, but the Falcons clinched the opening set after an Akron attack error.

Set 2: BGSU 23, Akron 25
After a back-and-forth start to the second set, the Falcons forced a Zips timeout with a 3-0 run. Akron responded with two points, then Petra Indrova, Kat Mandly, and Katie Kidwell each registered a kill to give the Orange and Brown a 10-5 advantage. Akron's subsequent 6-1 run tied the set, then the teams alternated 3-0 runs. Two aces by the Zips forced a BGSU timeout, and Akron clinched the set on a Falcon attack error.

Set 3: BGSU 27, Akron 25
Akron carried their momentum into the third set, taking leads of 5-1 and 13-6 to force two BGSU timeouts. Trailing 9-16, the Falcons went on a 7-0 run to tie the set. Kat Mandly recorded three consecutive kills in the stretch. The Zips responded with two points, then Mandly landed two more kills to tie the set again. Akron called a timeout, then went on a 4-1 run, but BGSU answered with a 3-0 run. Akron scored the next two points to reach set point, but Katie Kidwell kept the Falcons alive with a kill. After a Zips kill, Bowling Green went on a 3-0 run to win a thrilling third set. Katelyn Meyer played a part in all three points, with two kills and a block assist.

Set 4: BGSU 25, Akron 22
In another close set, the Falcons and Zips traded points early. A 3-0 BGSU run forced an Akron timeout with the Orange and Brown leading 9-6. From there, Bowling Green controlled the set. They forced another Akron timeout with a 3-0 run, then went on a 7-0 run following an Akron point. Three of BGSU's points came on kills by Petra Indrova, who recorded eight kills in the set. The squads traded points for the rest of the set, with the Falcons clinching the set and match on Hanna Laube's kill.

Falcon Stat Leaders
Kills: Petra Indrova (21)
Assists: Hanna Laube (57)
Digs: Julia Walz (35)
Aces: Yelianiz Torres (4)
Blocks: Petra Indrova (4 solo blocks, 2 block assists)

Falcon Facts

Hanna Laube logged 57 assists, her highest total of the season. This is the third time she has tallied over 50 assists and the first time she has done so in four sets.
Petra Indrova registered a season-best 21 kills, just one shy of her career-high. Her hitting percentage of .319 marks her third consecutive match swinging over .300.
Indrova also totaled six blocks, tying her career-high. She set new career-bests in solo blocks (4) and points (26.0)
Yelianiz Torres landed four aces, the highest total of her career.
Julia Walz recorded 35 digs, her highest mark of the season and third-best total of her career.
With a .303 hitting percentage, the Falcons extend their stretch of .300+ performances to three games.
BGSU also set a season-best with 20 total team blocks, with eight coming in the opening set.
The Falcons limited Akron to a .057 hitting percentage in the final set, marking the third time this weekend BGSU held the Zips below .100 in a set.

Coach Tomic's Take
"Winning is hard, and winning on the road is even harder. We are very proud of our team and how we responded in the third set when we had to play from behind against a gritty Akron team. We found a way to win by staying focused on playing one point at a time and showing resiliency under pressure. I was pleased to see our team make defensive adjustments and improve from yesterday's match."

Up Next
The Falcons will return to the Stroh Center for a four-game MAC homestand. They begin by hosting Buffalo at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2. The following weekend, BGSU hosts Northern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, and Western Michigan at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media.
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
TikTok - @bgsuvolleyball
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'