COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University volleyball team wrapped up the non-conference portion of their 2024 schedule, taking on Ohio State on Sunday (Sept. 22). The match concluded a weekend home-and-home between the Falcons and Buckeyes. In the match, Ohio State recorded a 3-0 final score to tally the win, moving BGSU to 5-6 entering MAC play. The Falcons will be back on the court on Friday (Sept. 27) against Ball State to start the MAC schedule. 

How It Happened 
Set 1: Ohio State 25, Bowling Green 16

• Lauryn Hovey and Alexis Mettille partnered for a block on the first point of the match for a 1-0 BGSU lead. The two teams traded points following before a 6-0 run pushed Ohio State to a 7-2 lead in the early going with BGSU calling timeout.
• Out of the timeout, Jessica Andrews landed a kill on two of the next three points, interrupted by an OSU point for an 8-4 score.
• The Buckeyes responded with a 3-0 run to build their lead up to 12-5 before stretching to 14-6 with back-to-back points to force the second Bowling Green timeout of the set.
• Soon after the timeout, the Falcons utilized a pancake effort to keep the ball up before a block by Hovey and Jessica Andrews secured the point. Mettille followed with an ace and then Hovey landed a kill for a 3-0 BGSU run to cut into the lead, 14-10.
• Ohio State put together a 3-0 burst that expanded their lead to 19-11 in the set. From there, the two teams went back-and-forth through the end of the set with Ohio State claiming the 25-16 score for a 1-0 match lead.

Set 2: Ohio State 25, Bowling Green 19

• Ohio State opened the second set with a 3-0 run before a Hovey kill put BGSU on the board for the set, but the Buckeyes added another 3-0 run after for a 6-1 lead.
• The Falcons worked away at the Ohio State lead, landing back-to-back points for a 9-5 score.
• The two teams continued going back-and-forth up until the media timeout in the set with Ohio State leading 15-8.
• Out of the media timeout, the Falcons rattled off a 3-0 run to cut into the Ohio State lead, 15-11. 
• Bowling Green added another 3-0 run later in the set, starting off by winning a challenge. The run brought the score down to 17-14 OSU. 
• The Buckeyes answered by rebuilding their lead to 20-15, resulting in the first BGSU timeout of the second set.
• The run carried through the timeout for Ohio State, adding three more to tally for a 23-15 score. 
• The Falcons answered with a 3-0 run to chip away at the lead, 23-18, but Ohio State held on for the 25-19 set score.

Set 3: Ohio State 25, Bowling Green 15

• Mettille landed a kill to get the third set started with Ohio State answering followed by a Hovey kill before a 2-2 tie. Marija Tabak and Andrews tallied a block for Bowling Green, but Ohio State again tied it up at 3-3.
• The ties continued to 4-4, but a 3-0 run for Ohio State pushed the Buckeyes to a 7-4 advantage. The Ohio State lead stretched to 10-5 with a BGSU timeout.
• Coming out of the break, the Orange and Brown worked away at the Ohio State lead, recording three of the next four points to trim the lead to 11-8.
• BGSU and OSU traded points before a 4-0 run for Ohio State made it a 17-10 lead for the Buckeyes. 
• The Falcons added two points, but a 3-0 run for Ohio State pushed their lead to 20-12 to force the second Bowling Green timeout of the set.
• Ohio State remained in front for the 25-15 set score to claim the match. 

Falcon Stat Leaders 
Kills: Lauryn Hovey (10)
Assists: Amanda Otten (9)
Digs: Lindsey LaPinta (9)
Aces: Alexis Mettille (2)
Blocks: Lauryn Hovey (4)

Falcon Stat Facts

• Alexis Mettille tallied three blocks in the match, bringing her career total to 260. That mark ties Mettille for eighth during BGSU's Rally Scoring Era with Taylor Twite (2002-04).
• Lauryn Hovey registered a team-high four block assists in the match, matching her season-high so far this year. 
• Anna Sitek registered the first solo block in her collegiate career and the only solo block for the Falcons in the match. 

Up Next
The Falcons will begin play within the Mid-American Conference on Friday (Sept. 27), traveling to Muncie, Ind. for a pair of matches against the Ball State Cardinals. Friday's match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start while Saturday (Sept. 28) is set for a 4 p.m. first serve. 

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