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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Thursday, August 31
Bowling Green, Ohio
7 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Loyola Chicago
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
BGSU To Host Undefeated Texas A&M, Two 2022 NCAA Tournament Participants In Hampton Inn Invitational
August 29, 2023 | Volleyball
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Grand Opening Of Ziggyville Set For Friday
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team will begin the home portion of their season this weekend, hosting the Hampton Inn Invitational. The Falcons will welcome 2022 NCAA Tournament participants Loyola Chicago and Wright State as well as undefeated Texas A&M to the Stroh Center. For BGSU, Loyola Chicago will mark the home opener on Thursday (Aug. 31) with a 7 p.m. first serve. The Falcons will then take on Texas A&M on Friday (Sept. 1) at 6 p.m. before concluding the weekend against Wright State at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 2).
At The Matches
To begin the season on Thursday, the Falcons will be revealing the 2022 NCAA Tournament banner as well as the addition of the 2022 season to the MAC Tournament Champions banner prior to the match.
As for Friday, BGSU will be opening "Ziggyville" the new student section for Bowling Green. Students can enter through the new student entrance on the north side of the Stroh Center. Ziggyville shirts will be handed out to students at the entrance and free pizza will be available above the student section. There will also be a live DJ in Ziggyville.
Full Weekend Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 31 - Texas A&M vs. Wright State - 4 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 31 - Bowling Green vs. Loyola Chicago - 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 - Loyola Chicago vs. Wright State - 3 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 - Bowling Green vs. Texas A&M - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 - Texas A&M vs. Loyola Chicago - 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 - Bowling Green vs. Wright State - 2 p.m.
Scouting Loyola Chicago
Coming off an A-10 title, Loyola Chicago had a strong start to the season, facing two ranked opponents. The 2023 campaign started with a loss for the Ramblers, falling to No. 18 Creighton in three sets. Loyola Chicago bounced back with a sweep of their own, besting Duke, before pulling off a five-set upset over No. 16 Purdue, the program's first win against a ranked opponent since 2004.
The meeting between Bowling Green and Loyola Chicago will mark the eighth all-time in program history. The two teams met last year in a neutral site match that ended in favor of Loyola Chicago, 3-1. The Ramblers hold the all-time advantage at 4-3 and have won the last three meetings with the last BGSU victory in the all-time series coming in 1998 by a 3-2 score. Loyola Chicago also won the only meeting between the two played in Bowling Green, coming during the 2015 season.
Scouting Texas A&M
Texas A&M enters the weekend as the only undefeated team playing in the Stroh Center. The Aggies kicked off their 2023 campaign with a pair of wins at the Omaha Invite, topping host Omaha 3-1 and Pepperdine 3-0. A&M's steady attack led the way, registering a .364 hitting percentage against Omaha before improving that mark to .420 in the win over Pepperdine, finishing the weekend at .388.
The Falcons and Aggies have met just two times previously, both coming on neutral floors and both resulting in BGSU victories. BGSU and Texas A&M first played in 1991 and again in 1992. The Orange and Brown won in 1991 by a score of 3-0 and followed it up with a 3-2 final in 1992.
Scouting Wright State
Coming off a Horizon League title, Wright State began the season similarly to Loyola Chicago, facing two ranked opponents in their first three matches. The lone win over the weekend for the Raiders came against Troy in three sets while they came up short against No. 21 Washington State in the opener, 3-0. Wright State also took on No. 4 Louisville and captured a set in the 3-1 final.
Wright State will be the most familiar opponent for the Falcons this weekend with the match marking the 31st all-time between the two programs and the 11th in Bowling Green. The Falcons hold a record of 7-3 when hosting the Raiders. However, Wright State has won the last two meetings between the teams in Bowling Green. All-time, BGSU has won three of the last four meetings and eight of the last 10 against Wright State.
Home Sweet Home
Bowling Green will be competing inside the Stroh Center for the first time this season and will look to continue a dominant stretch when playing at home. Over the last three seasons combined, the Falcons hold a record of 31-3 inside the Stroh. Last season, BGSU went 10-2 at home following an undefeated 10-0 showing during the 2021 season and an 11-1 record during the 2020-21 campaign.
Ace Up The Sleeve
BGSU found success behind the serving line during the opening weekend of the 2023 season. As a team, the Falcons landed 24 aces, which is tied for the 35th-most in the nation. The mark averaged out to 2.18 aces per set, which is tied for 45th in the country. Alex Laboy and Amanda Otten led the way in the category for Bowling Green, each landing six. Alexis Mettille followed closely with five.
Blocking With The Best
Bowling Green had a strong weekend at the net. As a team, the Falcons recorded 28 blocks, which is currently tied for 46th in the nation. Amanda Otten led the way with 14, including nine in the match against No. 14 Ohio State. Alexis Mettille reached double-digits for the weekend as well, concluding with 12. This comes after BGSU recorded 275 total blocks as a team in 2022 and returned 92% of the output this year.
Closing In On Win 200
Head coach Danijela Tomic is nearing a milestone win with the Falcons. Now in her 12th season with the Orange and Brown, Tomic enters the weekend with 195 wins at the helm of BGSU Volleyball, standing just five wins away from 200. Of those 200, 128 have come in conference play. During her 19 seasons as a head coach at the Division I level, Tomic has recorded 353 victories.
Staff Sticking Together
Head coach Danijela Tomic and associate head coaches Alex DelPiombo and Alison Cooke are the longest tenured full-time staff in the Mid-American Conference. Tomic, DelPiombo and Cooke are entering their seventh season together. Over that time, the trio has led the Falcons to two NCAA Tournament Appearances, two MAC Tournament titles and four MAC regular season titles.
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'
At The Matches
To begin the season on Thursday, the Falcons will be revealing the 2022 NCAA Tournament banner as well as the addition of the 2022 season to the MAC Tournament Champions banner prior to the match.
As for Friday, BGSU will be opening "Ziggyville" the new student section for Bowling Green. Students can enter through the new student entrance on the north side of the Stroh Center. Ziggyville shirts will be handed out to students at the entrance and free pizza will be available above the student section. There will also be a live DJ in Ziggyville.
Full Weekend Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 31 - Texas A&M vs. Wright State - 4 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 31 - Bowling Green vs. Loyola Chicago - 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 - Loyola Chicago vs. Wright State - 3 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1 - Bowling Green vs. Texas A&M - 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 - Texas A&M vs. Loyola Chicago - 11 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2 - Bowling Green vs. Wright State - 2 p.m.
Scouting Loyola Chicago
Coming off an A-10 title, Loyola Chicago had a strong start to the season, facing two ranked opponents. The 2023 campaign started with a loss for the Ramblers, falling to No. 18 Creighton in three sets. Loyola Chicago bounced back with a sweep of their own, besting Duke, before pulling off a five-set upset over No. 16 Purdue, the program's first win against a ranked opponent since 2004.
The meeting between Bowling Green and Loyola Chicago will mark the eighth all-time in program history. The two teams met last year in a neutral site match that ended in favor of Loyola Chicago, 3-1. The Ramblers hold the all-time advantage at 4-3 and have won the last three meetings with the last BGSU victory in the all-time series coming in 1998 by a 3-2 score. Loyola Chicago also won the only meeting between the two played in Bowling Green, coming during the 2015 season.
Scouting Texas A&M
Texas A&M enters the weekend as the only undefeated team playing in the Stroh Center. The Aggies kicked off their 2023 campaign with a pair of wins at the Omaha Invite, topping host Omaha 3-1 and Pepperdine 3-0. A&M's steady attack led the way, registering a .364 hitting percentage against Omaha before improving that mark to .420 in the win over Pepperdine, finishing the weekend at .388.
The Falcons and Aggies have met just two times previously, both coming on neutral floors and both resulting in BGSU victories. BGSU and Texas A&M first played in 1991 and again in 1992. The Orange and Brown won in 1991 by a score of 3-0 and followed it up with a 3-2 final in 1992.
Scouting Wright State
Coming off a Horizon League title, Wright State began the season similarly to Loyola Chicago, facing two ranked opponents in their first three matches. The lone win over the weekend for the Raiders came against Troy in three sets while they came up short against No. 21 Washington State in the opener, 3-0. Wright State also took on No. 4 Louisville and captured a set in the 3-1 final.
Wright State will be the most familiar opponent for the Falcons this weekend with the match marking the 31st all-time between the two programs and the 11th in Bowling Green. The Falcons hold a record of 7-3 when hosting the Raiders. However, Wright State has won the last two meetings between the teams in Bowling Green. All-time, BGSU has won three of the last four meetings and eight of the last 10 against Wright State.
Home Sweet Home
Bowling Green will be competing inside the Stroh Center for the first time this season and will look to continue a dominant stretch when playing at home. Over the last three seasons combined, the Falcons hold a record of 31-3 inside the Stroh. Last season, BGSU went 10-2 at home following an undefeated 10-0 showing during the 2021 season and an 11-1 record during the 2020-21 campaign.
Ace Up The Sleeve
BGSU found success behind the serving line during the opening weekend of the 2023 season. As a team, the Falcons landed 24 aces, which is tied for the 35th-most in the nation. The mark averaged out to 2.18 aces per set, which is tied for 45th in the country. Alex Laboy and Amanda Otten led the way in the category for Bowling Green, each landing six. Alexis Mettille followed closely with five.
Blocking With The Best
Bowling Green had a strong weekend at the net. As a team, the Falcons recorded 28 blocks, which is currently tied for 46th in the nation. Amanda Otten led the way with 14, including nine in the match against No. 14 Ohio State. Alexis Mettille reached double-digits for the weekend as well, concluding with 12. This comes after BGSU recorded 275 total blocks as a team in 2022 and returned 92% of the output this year.
Closing In On Win 200
Head coach Danijela Tomic is nearing a milestone win with the Falcons. Now in her 12th season with the Orange and Brown, Tomic enters the weekend with 195 wins at the helm of BGSU Volleyball, standing just five wins away from 200. Of those 200, 128 have come in conference play. During her 19 seasons as a head coach at the Division I level, Tomic has recorded 353 victories.
Staff Sticking Together
Head coach Danijela Tomic and associate head coaches Alex DelPiombo and Alison Cooke are the longest tenured full-time staff in the Mid-American Conference. Tomic, DelPiombo and Cooke are entering their seventh season together. Over that time, the trio has led the Falcons to two NCAA Tournament Appearances, two MAC Tournament titles and four MAC regular season titles.
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
Sunday, November 23
Saturday, November 22
Sunday, November 09
Saturday, November 08