In a fiercely contested Saturday night match, the BGSU volleyball (17-15, 10-9 MAC) fell to the Western Michigan Broncos (17-15, 13-5 MAC) in four sets, with the Broncos eliminating the Falcons for the second straight season
“We hate to have this happen here at home. From talking with our seniors, this is something we need to learn from, every detail matters,” said head coach Alex DelPiombo postgame. “Looking back on her first year leading the program, she added, “I’ve learned a lot over the past year. We’ve faced many ups and downs, but I’m committed to working hard—taking accountability, embracing setbacks, and learning from our mistakes to put us in better situations moving forward.”
DelPiombo also highlighted the unpredictable nature of volleyball and the importance of preparation and resilience.
“The biggest takeaway from this year is that you can’t always predict what will happen, but being prepared and how you respond is everything,” said DelPiombo. “I’m grateful for this team, this community, and to be a mom.”
The Falcons jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the opening set, seemingly capitalizing on Western Michigan’s slow start following a week-long break.
However, the Broncos quickly found their footing, unleashing a powerful offensive run with four straight kills to knot the score at 8-8.
“We didn’t do a good job changing up our attacks; we were just swinging and hoping for the best,” said DelPiombo.
Amanda Otten delivered a standout performance with 40 assists, expertly directing the offense and setting up key attackers, including Lauryn Hovey (11 kills), Jessica Andrews (eight kills), and Helen Wilford (eight kills). Despite the Falcons’ offensive firepower, Western Michigan’s tenacious defense turned multiple transition plays into points.
Bowling Green trailed 18-14 in the first set but rallied late to narrow the deficit to 23-21. Unfortunately, the Falcons couldn’t score again as the Broncos closed out the set 25-21 to take a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Western Michigan scored first off a Bowling Green error, but the teams traded points closely throughout. The Falcons surged ahead thanks to clutch plays, including a service ace from Avery Anders and a timely block by Wilford and Hovey. Bowling Green seized control at 24-21, and Hovey sealed the set with a decisive kill off an Otten assist, leveling the match.
“We improved defensively and forced them into difficult situations,” DelPiombo said. “We took better shots but still need more patience during transitions and stronger first contact.”
The third set saw the Falcons start strong with a 3-0 lead fueled by service aces and kills from Hovey and Anders. However, Western Michigan countered by capitalizing on key Bowling Green errors. The Broncos’ dominant blocking disrupted the Falcons’ offense and helped build a lead they maintained to take the set 25-20.
Western Michigan completed the victory by capturing the fourth set 25-20. Building a commanding 16-10 lead mid-set, the Broncos withstood late rallies from Bowling Green, closing out the match 3-1.
Though Bowling Green showed resilience and flashes of brilliance throughout, costly turnovers and a steadfast Western Michigan defense ultimately proved decisive.
Looking ahead, the MAC Championship will take place tomorrow at the Stroh Center between the Broncos and the No. 4 seeded Toledo Rockets at 4:00 p.m. Falcon Media Sports Network will have full coverage of the match on bgfalconmedia.com.
