Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics
Laube, Meyer, and Walz To Return To BGVB For Fifth Year
April 14, 2022 | Volleyball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Three members of the Bowling Green Volleyball program have announced their plans to utilize their fifth year of eligibility and compete for the Falcons in 2022. Seniors Hanna Laube, Katelyn Meyer, and Julia Walz will wear the Orange and Brown again this fall after guiding BGSU to an 82-36 overall record and 60-11 MAC record in the last four seasons. In those years, the Falcons have won the MAC East three times, earned a berth in the MAC Tournament Championship three times, qualified for the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament, and participated in the NIVC twice. In 2021, the Falcons were a perfect 10-0 at home, their first undefeated home season since 1979.
Hanna Laube, Setter – Burlington, OntarioÂ
The 2020-21 MAC Setter of the Year, Hanna Laube brings over 250 sets of experience back to the Falcons. In her career, the setter has 2,388 assists, including a career-best 1,088 last season. She was named CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team, the second player in BGVB history to be named an Academic All-American. She also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District and was a 2020-21 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Laube compiled career-highs in assists (67) and digs (16) in the 2021 MAC Championship, marking the seventh double-double of her career. She started all 30 matches for the Falcons and was one of five players to appear in over 100 sets.
Laube was named All-MAC Second Team in 2021, her second consecutive season with a conference honor. The History major maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection. In her career, she has earned MAC Setter of the Week 10 times and finished the 2020-21 season ranked third in the NCAA in assists (932). She averaged 11.23 assists per set that season, the seventh-best mark in program history and 10th-highest in the nation. Laube's sister, Isabelle, is also slated to join the Falcons in the fall.
"I love playing volleyball, but even more I love the team and the coaches. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play another year because I get to spend more time being a part of the team. When I heard I had another year to play, I immediately knew I would stay because for me, four years wasn't enough time to do what I love with the people I love." – Hanna Laube
Katelyn Meyer, Outside Hitter – Pemberville, OhioÂ
The program's first four-time All-MAC First Team honoree, Katelyn Meyer ranks fifth in BGVB history with 1,442 career kills. She is second in attack attempts (4,243) and was named 2020-21 MAC Tournament MVP. Meyer is a five-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week and three-time Academic All-MAC selection. In 2021, she appeared in all 109 sets for the Orange and Brown, landing 358 kills, including a season-high 24 against Milwaukee at the Shamrock Invitational. For her efforts that weekend, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Meyer also landed 16 kills on a career-best .517 attack percentage against Central Michigan.
Meyer logged a team-high 338 kills in 2020-21, ranking 14th in the NCAA. She also earned MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week and is a two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. In 2019, she registered a single-season best 459 kills on 1,374 attack attempts, the third-highest mark in program history. Her kill total of 28 against Eastern Michigan remains a career-high. She was named to the Golden Dome Invitational and Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Teams. In 2018, Meyer was named MAC Freshman of the Year after leading the team in kills with 267.
"I choose to stay my fifth year because I wanted to continue my journey with BGVB. I know staying a fifth year meant more challenges and sacrifices, but they are all so worth it to be a part of this group! I can't wait to see what our team will accomplish together for another year!" – Katelyn Meyer
Julia Walz, Defensive Specialist/Libero – Brooklyn, OhioÂ
The 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Julia Walz returns with 1,723 career digs, ranking fourth in program history. She registered 571 digs last season, the seventh-best single-season mark in BGVB history. Her average of 5.24 digs per set was 16th nationally and sixth-highest in program history. Like Meyer, Walz appeared in all 109 sets for the Falcons, logging a season-best 35 digs against Akron. She has earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week 11 times, including seven last season. She was named to the All-MAC First Team and participated in the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program.
Walz led the Orange and Brown in digs in 2020-21, tallying 435. This number ranked seventh in the NCAA, with her average of 4.78 digs per set ranking ninth in BGVB history. The libero recorded a career-best 39 digs against Weber State in the NCAA Tournament. She also led the team in aces with 32, ranking 24th in the nation. In 2019, she logged 677 digs, which was fourth on the program's all-time list and seventh in the country. Her average of 5.55 digs per set ranked fifth in the program's history and eighth in the NCAA. Walz is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and was named to the 2019 Golden Dome Invitational All-Tournament Team.
"Covid truly had a silver lining, in my opinion. When given the news that I was able to stay in Bowling Green for an extra year, I was ecstatic. It was the easiest 'yes' I've ever said! I'm grateful to have had four years' worth of amazing teammates and coaches. Being able to return and be surrounded by them once again is something I'll be forever grateful for! To be able to rewrite the ending of this chapter of my life is a dream come true. There's unfinished business with this group of girls and ending this chapter with a trip to the dance would be the cherry on top. BG is a hard place to leave, and I'm happy I can stick around for a little bit longer! #15BackIn" – Julia Walz
Coach Tomic's Take
"We are thrilled that Hanna, Katelyn, and Julia have chosen to use their extra year of eligibility to extend their academic and volleyball careers with us at BGSU. We are grateful for their commitment to BGSU Volleyball over the past four years and their love for the program. The three of them have already significantly impacted BGSU Volleyball and helped us establish a championship culture. They are great teammates and winners who make everyone around them better. I am excited and thankful to coach them another season, and we look forward to their contributions as 'super seniors' this fall."
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'
Hanna Laube, Setter – Burlington, OntarioÂ
The 2020-21 MAC Setter of the Year, Hanna Laube brings over 250 sets of experience back to the Falcons. In her career, the setter has 2,388 assists, including a career-best 1,088 last season. She was named CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team, the second player in BGVB history to be named an Academic All-American. She also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District and was a 2020-21 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Laube compiled career-highs in assists (67) and digs (16) in the 2021 MAC Championship, marking the seventh double-double of her career. She started all 30 matches for the Falcons and was one of five players to appear in over 100 sets.
Laube was named All-MAC Second Team in 2021, her second consecutive season with a conference honor. The History major maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection. In her career, she has earned MAC Setter of the Week 10 times and finished the 2020-21 season ranked third in the NCAA in assists (932). She averaged 11.23 assists per set that season, the seventh-best mark in program history and 10th-highest in the nation. Laube's sister, Isabelle, is also slated to join the Falcons in the fall.
"I love playing volleyball, but even more I love the team and the coaches. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to play another year because I get to spend more time being a part of the team. When I heard I had another year to play, I immediately knew I would stay because for me, four years wasn't enough time to do what I love with the people I love." – Hanna Laube
Katelyn Meyer, Outside Hitter – Pemberville, OhioÂ
The program's first four-time All-MAC First Team honoree, Katelyn Meyer ranks fifth in BGVB history with 1,442 career kills. She is second in attack attempts (4,243) and was named 2020-21 MAC Tournament MVP. Meyer is a five-time MAC Offensive Player of the Week and three-time Academic All-MAC selection. In 2021, she appeared in all 109 sets for the Orange and Brown, landing 358 kills, including a season-high 24 against Milwaukee at the Shamrock Invitational. For her efforts that weekend, she was named to the All-Tournament Team. Meyer also landed 16 kills on a career-best .517 attack percentage against Central Michigan.
Meyer logged a team-high 338 kills in 2020-21, ranking 14th in the NCAA. She also earned MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week and is a two-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. In 2019, she registered a single-season best 459 kills on 1,374 attack attempts, the third-highest mark in program history. Her kill total of 28 against Eastern Michigan remains a career-high. She was named to the Golden Dome Invitational and Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Teams. In 2018, Meyer was named MAC Freshman of the Year after leading the team in kills with 267.
"I choose to stay my fifth year because I wanted to continue my journey with BGVB. I know staying a fifth year meant more challenges and sacrifices, but they are all so worth it to be a part of this group! I can't wait to see what our team will accomplish together for another year!" – Katelyn Meyer
Julia Walz, Defensive Specialist/Libero – Brooklyn, OhioÂ
The 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Julia Walz returns with 1,723 career digs, ranking fourth in program history. She registered 571 digs last season, the seventh-best single-season mark in BGVB history. Her average of 5.24 digs per set was 16th nationally and sixth-highest in program history. Like Meyer, Walz appeared in all 109 sets for the Falcons, logging a season-best 35 digs against Akron. She has earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week 11 times, including seven last season. She was named to the All-MAC First Team and participated in the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program.
Walz led the Orange and Brown in digs in 2020-21, tallying 435. This number ranked seventh in the NCAA, with her average of 4.78 digs per set ranking ninth in BGVB history. The libero recorded a career-best 39 digs against Weber State in the NCAA Tournament. She also led the team in aces with 32, ranking 24th in the nation. In 2019, she logged 677 digs, which was fourth on the program's all-time list and seventh in the country. Her average of 5.55 digs per set ranked fifth in the program's history and eighth in the NCAA. Walz is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection and was named to the 2019 Golden Dome Invitational All-Tournament Team.
"Covid truly had a silver lining, in my opinion. When given the news that I was able to stay in Bowling Green for an extra year, I was ecstatic. It was the easiest 'yes' I've ever said! I'm grateful to have had four years' worth of amazing teammates and coaches. Being able to return and be surrounded by them once again is something I'll be forever grateful for! To be able to rewrite the ending of this chapter of my life is a dream come true. There's unfinished business with this group of girls and ending this chapter with a trip to the dance would be the cherry on top. BG is a hard place to leave, and I'm happy I can stick around for a little bit longer! #15BackIn" – Julia Walz
Coach Tomic's Take
"We are thrilled that Hanna, Katelyn, and Julia have chosen to use their extra year of eligibility to extend their academic and volleyball careers with us at BGSU. We are grateful for their commitment to BGSU Volleyball over the past four years and their love for the program. The three of them have already significantly impacted BGSU Volleyball and helped us establish a championship culture. They are great teammates and winners who make everyone around them better. I am excited and thankful to coach them another season, and we look forward to their contributions as 'super seniors' this fall."
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'
Players Mentioned
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BG VB : Postgame Interviews 9.17
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BG VB : Postgame Interview Sept. 5 (Stacey Clark Classic Game 3)
Friday, September 05
BG VB : Postgame Interview Sept. 4 (Stacey Clark Classic Game 2)
Friday, September 05