Late Runs Launch Bowling Green To Victory Over Northern Kentucky

Sunday, August 27

Highland Heights, KY

1:30 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Northern Kentucky

Photo by: Lauren Laudato, BGSU Athletics

August 27, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score BGSU-NKU Match Stats Support Our Student-Athletes

Laboy's Aces Spark 10-1 Run To Clinch Third Set, 3-0 Sweep

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team concluded the NKU Tournament with a 3-0 sweep over host Northern Kentucky. Each set was close between the Falcons and Norse, but each time BGSU found a way in front to take the set. The match culminated with a 10-1 Bowling Green stretch to close out the third set, 25-23, for the win and secure the sweep. With the win, BGSU moves to 2-1 after the opening weekend of the 2023 season.

Amanda Otten once again led the Falcons, logging her second double-double of the weekend. Otten finished with 17 assists and 13 kills, both leading the team, to go along with a .526 hitting percentage. Lauryn Hovey followed on the attack with 10 kills while Jaden Walz added 16 assists for the Falcons. Alex Laboy tallied team-highs in both digs (12) and aces (4) as well for Bowling Green, including being behind the service line during BGSU's run late in the third set to clinch the match.

How It Happened
Set 1: Bowling Green 25, Northern Kentucky 22

Gwen Crull started the match with a kill for the Falcons, beginning a 3-0 run to start the match for BGSU. Northern Kentucky responded with four straight points of their own to move in front 4-3 before another Bowling Green point to tie it 4-4 early.
The trading of points continued with frequent ties early in the set, with ties at 7-7, 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10 before a 4-0 run gave the Falcons a 13-10 advantage and forced an NKU timeout.
The run extended to 5-0 for Bowling Green before the next NKU point, but the Falcons quickly began another run, making it an 8-1 stretch before another Norse timeout.
Northern Kentucky regrouped with a 4-0 run out of their timeout to narrow the gap to 17-15 with the first BGSU timeout of the match.
The timeout worked the same for Bowling Green as the previous did for Northern Kentucky with a 3-0 BGSU run to increase the Falcons' lead to 20-15.
The Norse made a late push, but the Orange and Brown were able to hold on for a 25-22 first set win.

Set 2: Bowling Green 25, Northern Kentucky 21

Amanda Otten began the second set by landing an ace for the Falcons, but an early 3-0 burst by NKU pushed them in front 4-2. The lead for the Norse stretched to 7-3 before a timeout from the Bowling Green bench.
BGSU worked to close the deficit, using a 3-0 run to trim the lead to 9-7 before another quick 3-0 burst tied it up at 10-10. Like the first set, the ties continued at 13-13, 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16 before a 3-0 spurt for the Falcons granted BGSU an 18-16 lead and an NKU timeout.
The Orange and Brown utilized a 4-0 run, split in half by an NKU timeout, to increase their lead to 23-18 late in the set.
Bowling Green maintained the advantage through the end of the set, taking it 25-21 to move up 2-0 for the match.

Set 3: Bowling Green 25, Northern Kentucky 23

NKU moved in front, 3-1, but an early 3-0 burst for the Falcons pushed BGSU to the lead, 4-3, early in the set. However, the Norse put together a 3-0 run of their own to reclaim the lead, 8-6.
Northern Kentucky increased their lead to 10-7 in the set before Bowling Green paused the action with a timeout. The NKU lead stretched to 12-7 during the run.
The two teams traded points until back-to-back NKU points moved the score to 16-10 and forced another BGSU timeout.
Bowling Green chipped away at the Norse lead before a 3-0 run, including a 5-1 stretch, closed the gap to 23-20 and forced a late timeout from NKU in the set.
The Falcons continued through the timeout, tallying two more points to extend the stretch to 7-1 and bring another Northern Kentucky timeout.
The momentum stayed with the Orange and Brown, stretching the run to 10-1, and 8-0, and taking the set 25-23 for the match sweep.

Falcon Stat Leaders
Kills: Amanda Otten (13)
Assists: Amanda Otten (17)
Digs: Alex Laboy (12)
Aces: Alex Laboy (4)
Blocks: Amanda Otten, Alexis Mettille, Gwen Crull (3)

Falcon Stat Facts

The win marks the fourth straight for the Falcons over the Norse in the all-time series with BGSU now holding a record of 4-2 all-time against NKU.
The win moves head coach Danijela Tomic one step closer to a milestone, now with 195 wins at the helm of the Falcons, needing just five more to reach 200 with the Orange and Brown.
Amanda Otten recorded her second straight double-double, leading the team in both kills (13) and assists (17). Otten also posted a .526 hitting percentage with 13 kills and just three errors on 19 attacks.
The weekend performances for Otten and Kat Mandly earned both All-Tournament honors for the NKU Invitational.
Alex Laboy landed a career-high and team-leading four aces for the Falcons. During the 2022 season Laboy landed a total of five aces. She already has six this season.
The Falcons finished the weekend 2-1 with both of their wins being 3-0 sweeps and their lone loss coming in five sets to No. 14 Ohio State.

Quote From Coach Tomic
"We are proud of the character, mental toughness, and grit that our team showed this weekend, especially in today's bounce-back and come-from-behind win. We played three quality opponents that helped us learn, improve and grow as a team. We are excited about playing at home at the Hampton Inn Invitational next week. We ask the BGSU and Bowling Green community to show support and create a true home-court advantage for our BG Warriors at all three matches. Let's pack the Stroh! Our program and this team deserve that."

Up Next
The Falcons will return home to the Stroh Center for their next three matches, hosting the Hampton Inn Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 2). BGSU's home opener will be on Thursday (Aug. 31) against 2022 NCAA participant Loyola Chicago for a 7 p.m. first serve. Bowling Green will then host Texas A&M at 6 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 1) and 2022 NCAA participant Wright State at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 2).

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