Bowling Green State University Athletics
Monday, November 20
Kalamazoo, Mich.
6:30 pm.
Bowling Green State University
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No. 1 Western Michigan
Photo by: Ashley Huss, WMU Athletics
BGSU, WMU To Meet Monday In MAC Championship Match
November 20, 2023 | Volleyball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team will continue their 2023 season in the MAC Tournament with the Western Michigan Broncos in the MAC Championship Monday night (Nov. 20). The Falcons and Broncos are scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start at University Arena in Read Fieldhouse. The game will broadcasted on ESPN+ with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
The Falcons are in the midst of a seven-match win streak, their longest of the season, and have won 12 of their last 13 contests. Of those 12 wins, nine have come via 3-0 sweep for the Orange and Brown. In the championship, the Falcons will face the top seed in the conference with Western Michigan. This is the first time BGSU and WMU have met in the MAC Tournament since facing in the 2020-21 MAC Championship.
Battle With The Broncos
Western Michigan will enter the match as the No. 1 seed and host of the MAC Tournament following an 18-0 MAC record. The Broncos have won 19 straight with their last loss coming on Sept. 16 to Western Kentucky in a 3-1 final. Their only other loss of the season came against Mississippi State on Sept. 8 in a 3-2 final. Both losses came on the road, entering the match against the Falcons with a 13-0 record when playing at home. In the tournament, Western started with a bye in the first round before topping Toledo in three sets in the Semifinals.
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan is led by MAC Player of the Year and MAC Setter of the Year Logan Case. Case leads the nation in total assists with 1,297 and is second for assists per set with 12.01. The Broncos also have three players with over 300 kills, being Maggie King (383), Keona Salesman (351) and Anna Calcagno (329). Libero Andelyn Simkins was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Colleen Munson was named the MAC Coach of the Year.
All-Time Against The Broncos
The all-time series between Bowling Green and Western Michigan has been close with WMU holding the advantage at 41-28-1. In the last 10 matches between the two the Falcons are 7-3, but Western Michigan won the two matches earlier this season. The match will also mark the fourth straight time the two teams have faced in Kalamazoo and the sixth time in the last eight meetings.
Hitting Stride In November
November has been a strong month for the Falcons in recent history. After starting the month off with seven straight wins, Bowling Green has now won 14 straight matches in the month of November after going 7-0 last season during the month. Going back to the 2019 season, the Orange and Brown are now 25-5 in November. The 2020-21 COVID season didn't play in the month due to a January-April schedule.
Looking For Win 20
With the recent run, winning 12 of their last 13, the Falcons have brought their win total this season to 19 entering the MAC Championship. A win would grant BGSU their 20th win this season to mark five straight seasons with 20+ wins with the streak beginning in 2019. A fifth straight 20-win season would tie the program record. Bowling Green tallied five consecutive 20-win seasons from 1989-1993.
Six Seed Success
Bowling Green is the first No. 6 seed to make the MAC Championship final since Western Michigan made it in 2017. Before that, it was Eastern Michigan in 2013 as the No. 7 seed. In the history of the conference, there has been only one No. 6 seed in volleyball to win the tournament. In 2011, No. 6 Central Michigan topped No. 1 Northern Illinois in five sets with a 3-2 final on a neutral floor.
On The Attack
BGSU has won 12 of the last 13 matches and a large factor has been hitting percentage. During the 13-match streak, the Falcons are hitting .320 as a team and averaging 14.40 kills per set. The strong stretch has raised Bowling Green's season mark to .258, placing them in the Top 50 in the nation and third in the MAC. During the 13-match span, the Falcons have hit .300 or better eight times and have hit .400 or better four times, including a season-best .470 against Kent State (Oct. 20).
Hovey Aces Through Record Book
So far this season, Lauryn Hovey has landed 53 aces for the Falcons to lead the team. The total for Hovey has earned her a spot in the Bowling Green record book, placing her fourth all-time for aces in a season. The next step for Hovey is Holly Costein's 1992 total of 54 followed by Linda Popovich in 1986 with 55. The record is held by Jessica Andrasko with 79 in 1993.
Hovey Enters Record Book For Kills
In addition to the aces, Lauryn Hovey is also leading the team in kills with 479 and has entered the BGSU record book. The total has Hovey tied for ninth all-time in program history for kills in a single season with Jo Lynn Williamson's 1986 season. Next up on the list for Hovey would be Paige Penrod's 2012 campaign when she landed 491 kills followed by Lisa Mika in 1991 with 499.
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'
The Falcons are in the midst of a seven-match win streak, their longest of the season, and have won 12 of their last 13 contests. Of those 12 wins, nine have come via 3-0 sweep for the Orange and Brown. In the championship, the Falcons will face the top seed in the conference with Western Michigan. This is the first time BGSU and WMU have met in the MAC Tournament since facing in the 2020-21 MAC Championship.
Battle With The Broncos
Western Michigan will enter the match as the No. 1 seed and host of the MAC Tournament following an 18-0 MAC record. The Broncos have won 19 straight with their last loss coming on Sept. 16 to Western Kentucky in a 3-1 final. Their only other loss of the season came against Mississippi State on Sept. 8 in a 3-2 final. Both losses came on the road, entering the match against the Falcons with a 13-0 record when playing at home. In the tournament, Western started with a bye in the first round before topping Toledo in three sets in the Semifinals.
Scouting Western Michigan
Western Michigan is led by MAC Player of the Year and MAC Setter of the Year Logan Case. Case leads the nation in total assists with 1,297 and is second for assists per set with 12.01. The Broncos also have three players with over 300 kills, being Maggie King (383), Keona Salesman (351) and Anna Calcagno (329). Libero Andelyn Simkins was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Colleen Munson was named the MAC Coach of the Year.
All-Time Against The Broncos
The all-time series between Bowling Green and Western Michigan has been close with WMU holding the advantage at 41-28-1. In the last 10 matches between the two the Falcons are 7-3, but Western Michigan won the two matches earlier this season. The match will also mark the fourth straight time the two teams have faced in Kalamazoo and the sixth time in the last eight meetings.
Hitting Stride In November
November has been a strong month for the Falcons in recent history. After starting the month off with seven straight wins, Bowling Green has now won 14 straight matches in the month of November after going 7-0 last season during the month. Going back to the 2019 season, the Orange and Brown are now 25-5 in November. The 2020-21 COVID season didn't play in the month due to a January-April schedule.
Looking For Win 20
With the recent run, winning 12 of their last 13, the Falcons have brought their win total this season to 19 entering the MAC Championship. A win would grant BGSU their 20th win this season to mark five straight seasons with 20+ wins with the streak beginning in 2019. A fifth straight 20-win season would tie the program record. Bowling Green tallied five consecutive 20-win seasons from 1989-1993.
Six Seed Success
Bowling Green is the first No. 6 seed to make the MAC Championship final since Western Michigan made it in 2017. Before that, it was Eastern Michigan in 2013 as the No. 7 seed. In the history of the conference, there has been only one No. 6 seed in volleyball to win the tournament. In 2011, No. 6 Central Michigan topped No. 1 Northern Illinois in five sets with a 3-2 final on a neutral floor.
On The Attack
BGSU has won 12 of the last 13 matches and a large factor has been hitting percentage. During the 13-match streak, the Falcons are hitting .320 as a team and averaging 14.40 kills per set. The strong stretch has raised Bowling Green's season mark to .258, placing them in the Top 50 in the nation and third in the MAC. During the 13-match span, the Falcons have hit .300 or better eight times and have hit .400 or better four times, including a season-best .470 against Kent State (Oct. 20).
Hovey Aces Through Record Book
So far this season, Lauryn Hovey has landed 53 aces for the Falcons to lead the team. The total for Hovey has earned her a spot in the Bowling Green record book, placing her fourth all-time for aces in a season. The next step for Hovey is Holly Costein's 1992 total of 54 followed by Linda Popovich in 1986 with 55. The record is held by Jessica Andrasko with 79 in 1993.
Hovey Enters Record Book For Kills
In addition to the aces, Lauryn Hovey is also leading the team in kills with 479 and has entered the BGSU record book. The total has Hovey tied for ninth all-time in program history for kills in a single season with Jo Lynn Williamson's 1986 season. Next up on the list for Hovey would be Paige Penrod's 2012 campaign when she landed 491 kills followed by Lisa Mika in 1991 with 499.
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'
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