Bowling Green State University Athletics
Nearly 3,000 fans filed into the Stroh Center & saw the Falcons down Michigan State in a battle of unbeatens
15 Moments In 15 Years Of The Stroh Center: Volleyball Opens the Building With a B!G Win
June 25, 2026 | General, Volleyball, Stroh Center
This summer, join BGSU Athletics in a look back at the first 15 years inside the Stroh Center. The volleyball Falcons capped a memorable day inside the new facility with a signature win.
Previous Moments in the Series...
1 – Opening The Doors
A B!G Day at the Stroh
Sept. 9, 2011, was a big day at the Stroh Center. That Friday saw both the building's official dedication and the first athletics event take place inside the venue.
BGSU President Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey, Bowling Green mayor John Quinn, Director of Athletics Greg Christopher, and the building's namesake, Kerm Stroh, all spoke at the event. The event also saw the premiere of the Stroh Center Rap (which has over 240,000 views)...
The Bowling Green community was invited to the event, and the included the fight song, the BGSU birds and countless high-fives as Bowling Green Athletics entered a new era. The dedication preceded the first athletic event in the facility, which provided fans with many more fond memories.
A Battle of Unbeatens
Hours after the dedication ceremony, the BGSU volleyball team became the first Falcon squad to play inside the Stroh, as the Brown and Orange opened the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational by hosting Michigan State. The Falcons and Spartans entered the Friday-night match with identical 6-0 records, and a then-record crowd filed into the Stroh.
MSU had not lost a set in the first six matches of the season, and the Spartans were receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Coaches poll. The Falcons had won tournament titles at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, hosted by Navy, and the USF Volleyball Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
A Good Start
In front of a record crowd of 2,961 fans, the Falcons came out clicking. Bowling Green never trailed in the opening set and scored four straight points on a Paige Penrod kill, an Emily Kauth ace, and two Michigan State attack errors to build a 22-14 lead. With the score 24-16, the Spartans did score five in a row to make things interesting, but Penrod posted another kill to close out the first set.
Spartans Even It Up
The Falcons actually had a great opportunity to win the second set after another Michigan State attack error gave Bowling Green a 24-23 lead. But the Spartans got back-to-back kills from Jenilee Rathje and a block from Rathje and Alexis Mathews to even the match at 1-1.
BGSU Reclaims the Momentum
After dropping the second set, the question was whether or not the Falcons could continue to ride the emotion for the remainder of the match. But the team put that question to rest quickly, jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the third, capped by an Ashley Dunn ace. The Falcons led by as many as seven points and still held a six point lead at 19-13 before MSU made a run. The Spartans got within two at 20-18 and closed to one point behind at 23-22. Kauth and Rathje converted on attack attempts, however, to make it 24-23, before Penrod put the set away with a kill for the 25-23 win.
Falcons Close Out the B!G Win
In the fourth set, Bowling Green again captured momentum early and never looked back. Michigan State never led as the Falcons jumped out to a 10-4 lead. The Spartans got as close as one point at 19-18 but a service error was followed by a Penrod and Kari Galen block to make it 21-18. At 23-21, Danielle Tonyan and Kauth had kills to clinch the match.
From the Media Room
"Tonight will go down as one of my most memorable moments at Bowling Green," Falcon head coach Denise Van De Walle, in her 29th and final season, said. "From the dedication earlier in the day, to Kerm and Mary Ellen (Stroh) on the bench, to the amazing student section and all the BG fans, it was a dream come true."
"We played a very good Michigan State team but we never backed down. Our offense never stopped and everyone on the team contributed. What a night!"
Scanning the Stat Sheet
Tonyan finished just one kill shy of her career-high with a match-high 22. Penrod added 19 and Kauth had 13 with a .632 attack percentage. Laura Avila and Erica Fullenkamp shared setting duties and combined to hand out 51 assists. Kauth added three aces and six blocks. Despite trailing, 62-39, in digs, Bowling Green's service and passing game kept Michigan State out of rhythm and the Falcons were able to generate 21 more attack attempts throughout the night.
Stroh-Mendous Start
After the Friday win over Michigan State, the Falcons defeated both SIUE and Canisius the next day to capture the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. BGSU would win the first 12 matches of the season, setting a school record (since broken), and the 2011 Falcons went on to win 19 matches.
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1 – Opening The Doors
A B!G Day at the Stroh
Sept. 9, 2011, was a big day at the Stroh Center. That Friday saw both the building's official dedication and the first athletics event take place inside the venue.
BGSU President Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey, Bowling Green mayor John Quinn, Director of Athletics Greg Christopher, and the building's namesake, Kerm Stroh, all spoke at the event. The event also saw the premiere of the Stroh Center Rap (which has over 240,000 views)...
The Bowling Green community was invited to the event, and the included the fight song, the BGSU birds and countless high-fives as Bowling Green Athletics entered a new era. The dedication preceded the first athletic event in the facility, which provided fans with many more fond memories.
A Battle of Unbeatens
Hours after the dedication ceremony, the BGSU volleyball team became the first Falcon squad to play inside the Stroh, as the Brown and Orange opened the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational by hosting Michigan State. The Falcons and Spartans entered the Friday-night match with identical 6-0 records, and a then-record crowd filed into the Stroh.
MSU had not lost a set in the first six matches of the season, and the Spartans were receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Coaches poll. The Falcons had won tournament titles at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational, hosted by Navy, and the USF Volleyball Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
A Good Start
In front of a record crowd of 2,961 fans, the Falcons came out clicking. Bowling Green never trailed in the opening set and scored four straight points on a Paige Penrod kill, an Emily Kauth ace, and two Michigan State attack errors to build a 22-14 lead. With the score 24-16, the Spartans did score five in a row to make things interesting, but Penrod posted another kill to close out the first set.
Spartans Even It Up
The Falcons actually had a great opportunity to win the second set after another Michigan State attack error gave Bowling Green a 24-23 lead. But the Spartans got back-to-back kills from Jenilee Rathje and a block from Rathje and Alexis Mathews to even the match at 1-1.
BGSU Reclaims the Momentum
After dropping the second set, the question was whether or not the Falcons could continue to ride the emotion for the remainder of the match. But the team put that question to rest quickly, jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the third, capped by an Ashley Dunn ace. The Falcons led by as many as seven points and still held a six point lead at 19-13 before MSU made a run. The Spartans got within two at 20-18 and closed to one point behind at 23-22. Kauth and Rathje converted on attack attempts, however, to make it 24-23, before Penrod put the set away with a kill for the 25-23 win.
Falcons Close Out the B!G Win
In the fourth set, Bowling Green again captured momentum early and never looked back. Michigan State never led as the Falcons jumped out to a 10-4 lead. The Spartans got as close as one point at 19-18 but a service error was followed by a Penrod and Kari Galen block to make it 21-18. At 23-21, Danielle Tonyan and Kauth had kills to clinch the match.
From the Media Room
"Tonight will go down as one of my most memorable moments at Bowling Green," Falcon head coach Denise Van De Walle, in her 29th and final season, said. "From the dedication earlier in the day, to Kerm and Mary Ellen (Stroh) on the bench, to the amazing student section and all the BG fans, it was a dream come true."
"We played a very good Michigan State team but we never backed down. Our offense never stopped and everyone on the team contributed. What a night!"
Scanning the Stat Sheet
Tonyan finished just one kill shy of her career-high with a match-high 22. Penrod added 19 and Kauth had 13 with a .632 attack percentage. Laura Avila and Erica Fullenkamp shared setting duties and combined to hand out 51 assists. Kauth added three aces and six blocks. Despite trailing, 62-39, in digs, Bowling Green's service and passing game kept Michigan State out of rhythm and the Falcons were able to generate 21 more attack attempts throughout the night.
Stroh-Mendous Start
After the Friday win over Michigan State, the Falcons defeated both SIUE and Canisius the next day to capture the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational. BGSU would win the first 12 matches of the season, setting a school record (since broken), and the 2011 Falcons went on to win 19 matches.
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Thursday, June 25
Wednesday, June 24
Thursday, June 18
Saturday, June 13