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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, August 22
Bowling Green, Ohio
1 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Gannon
Photo by: Jack Walsh, BGSU Athletics
Falcons To Host Gannon In Exhibition Match Saturday At Stroh
August 20, 2026 | Volleyball
BGVB’s Dream BiG To Kick Off Season Friday Evening
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University volleyball team will begin their 2026 campaign on Saturday (Aug. 22) with an exhibition match against Gannon. The match is set for a 1 p.m. first serve at the Stroh Center and will be free to attend. Due to move-in for BGSU students, volleyball fans will be directed to park in the north side of Lots 24, 13 and 20 off of Stadium Drive with parking also free. ADA and accessible parking will be available on the north side of Lot 24. Fans who park in the ADA/Accessible parking spots will enter through the student entrance off of the north side of the Stroh Center. The Stroh Center this season will again be a cashless venue, including tickets and concessions throughout the season.
Clear Bag Mandate
For fans attending any games moving forward at BGSU venues, including the Stroh Center, a clear bag mandate will be in effect. Media attending will need to use only the media entrance as part of the mandate. For more information, please click here to see the mandate.
Dream BiG
Due to move-in, parking for this year's Dream BiG will mirror Saturday's directions. Fans will be directed to park on the north side of Lots 24, 13 and 20 off of Stadium Drive. ADA parking will be available in the Stroh Center Loading Dock and the north of Lot 24. Those registered for the event can make their way to Champions Court, entering through the Schmidthorst Pavillion with doors opening at 4 p.m.
This year's event will include dinner with a cash bar followed by live and silent auctions, the chance to meet this year's team, coaches and fellow supporters and a first look at the upcoming 2026 season. This year's auction will include traveling with the team to Ohio State, a Mandys Candys dessert, stained glass art made by the team, BGSU Volleyball locker room lockers and seat cushions and BGSU Volleyball memorabilia.
Exhibition vs. Gannon
The matchup against Gannon will reunite the common exhibition opponents for the first time since 2023. The Golden Knights made the trip to the Stroh Center in 2019 and 2021, marking this year as the fourth time the two programs have faced before the start of the season. The alma mater of BGSU head coach Alex DelPiombo, Gannon is coming off a 27-8 record a season ago, including a 13-1 record within the PSAC. The Golden Knights advanced to the PSAC Tournament Championship, falling to East Stroudsburg, before making a run in the D-II Atlanta Regional, falling in the Elite Eight Quarterfinals to Concordia-St. Paul.
Entering the second season with DelPiombo at the helm, the Falcons welcome five newcomers to the fold this season, consisting of three freshmen and two transfers. Coming in from the portal includes sophomore setter Molly Beatty from Central Michigan and sophomore opposite/middle blocker Karli Molnau from Loyola Chicago. Beatty recently competed for Team Canada's U21 Team while Molnau is coming off an A-10 All-Rookie campaign in 2025.
As for returners, seniors Avery Hobson and Amanda Otten lead the way, joined by junior Sydnie Hernandez. A 2025 All-MAC First Team selection, Hobson was one of two Falcons to start all 32 matches last season, landing a career-high 376 kills. Otten set the attack for BGSU a year ago after being named All-MAC First Team in 2024. Otten enters the season with 2,333 career assists, currently seventh during the program's Rally Scoring Era. As for Hernandez, she heads into the 2026 campaign after being the only Falcon to appear in all 124 sets last season. She also landed 41 aces for the Falcons, leading the team and ranking fourth during the Rally Scoring Era in program history.
The regular season for the Falcons will begin on Aug. 28 in Columbus, Ohio against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The match is set for a 6 p.m. start at the Covelli Center. As for the home schedule, Bowling Green will host the Best Western Invitational, beginning on Sept. 4 with Arkansas State, American University and Northern Kentucky visiting the Stroh Center.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUVolleyball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsuvolleyball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'Bowling Green State University Volleyball'
TikTok - @bgsuvolleyball
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Clear Bag Mandate
For fans attending any games moving forward at BGSU venues, including the Stroh Center, a clear bag mandate will be in effect. Media attending will need to use only the media entrance as part of the mandate. For more information, please click here to see the mandate.
Dream BiG
Due to move-in, parking for this year's Dream BiG will mirror Saturday's directions. Fans will be directed to park on the north side of Lots 24, 13 and 20 off of Stadium Drive. ADA parking will be available in the Stroh Center Loading Dock and the north of Lot 24. Those registered for the event can make their way to Champions Court, entering through the Schmidthorst Pavillion with doors opening at 4 p.m.
This year's event will include dinner with a cash bar followed by live and silent auctions, the chance to meet this year's team, coaches and fellow supporters and a first look at the upcoming 2026 season. This year's auction will include traveling with the team to Ohio State, a Mandys Candys dessert, stained glass art made by the team, BGSU Volleyball locker room lockers and seat cushions and BGSU Volleyball memorabilia.
Exhibition vs. Gannon
The matchup against Gannon will reunite the common exhibition opponents for the first time since 2023. The Golden Knights made the trip to the Stroh Center in 2019 and 2021, marking this year as the fourth time the two programs have faced before the start of the season. The alma mater of BGSU head coach Alex DelPiombo, Gannon is coming off a 27-8 record a season ago, including a 13-1 record within the PSAC. The Golden Knights advanced to the PSAC Tournament Championship, falling to East Stroudsburg, before making a run in the D-II Atlanta Regional, falling in the Elite Eight Quarterfinals to Concordia-St. Paul.
Entering the second season with DelPiombo at the helm, the Falcons welcome five newcomers to the fold this season, consisting of three freshmen and two transfers. Coming in from the portal includes sophomore setter Molly Beatty from Central Michigan and sophomore opposite/middle blocker Karli Molnau from Loyola Chicago. Beatty recently competed for Team Canada's U21 Team while Molnau is coming off an A-10 All-Rookie campaign in 2025.
As for returners, seniors Avery Hobson and Amanda Otten lead the way, joined by junior Sydnie Hernandez. A 2025 All-MAC First Team selection, Hobson was one of two Falcons to start all 32 matches last season, landing a career-high 376 kills. Otten set the attack for BGSU a year ago after being named All-MAC First Team in 2024. Otten enters the season with 2,333 career assists, currently seventh during the program's Rally Scoring Era. As for Hernandez, she heads into the 2026 campaign after being the only Falcon to appear in all 124 sets last season. She also landed 41 aces for the Falcons, leading the team and ranking fourth during the Rally Scoring Era in program history.
The regular season for the Falcons will begin on Aug. 28 in Columbus, Ohio against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The match is set for a 6 p.m. start at the Covelli Center. As for the home schedule, Bowling Green will host the Best Western Invitational, beginning on Sept. 4 with Arkansas State, American University and Northern Kentucky visiting the Stroh Center.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons volleyball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics 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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/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OPP/MB
/ Volleyball
S/RS
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