Oakland Grizzlies Claw Past Falcons

Tuesday, September 22

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Oakland

September 22, 2009 | Volleyball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green volleyball team lost its final tune-up heading into Mid-American Conference play, losing to Oakland University 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19 Tuesday night in Anderson Arena.

Boxscore

After losing the first set, the Falcons battled back from a seven-point deficit in the second to even the match. In that second set, Oakland led 16-9 before Shari Luther and Kaitlin Jackson paired up to post kills on each of the next four points. Down 18-15, Bowling Green got another kill from Luther followed by one from Cassie Berning and an Oakland attack error to tie the match at 18-18.

Following an Oakland timeout, Berning and Emily Kauth posted back-to-back kills to put the Falcons on top for good. Jackson put the set away with a kill as Bowling Green evened the match at one set apiece.

In a pivotal set three, Bowling Green jumped out to a 9-3 lead and looked to be in control. The Falcons still held a 22-18 lead late but Oakland scored five of the next six points to tie the score at 23-23. Noelle Spitler followed with her only kill of the match to put Bowling Green on top 24-23 but Oakland scored the next three points to win the set.

In the deciding fourth, Oakland built a 5-0 lead and never looked back, pushing the lead to as many as eight points at 12-4. Bowling Green did get within four points on a number of occasions and got back-to-back kills from Jackson to close within three at 20-17, but Oakland called a timeout, settled down, and scored five of the final seven points of the match.

Kauth led Bowling Green with 14 kills and a .414 attack percentage. Luther added 12 kills and four blocks, two of them the solo variety. Libero Alex Zlabis had 20 digs and Sam Fish handed out 44 assists. Jackson added 10 kills, eight digs and two aces, while Berning had seven kills, eight digs and an ace.

Oakland improves to 9-2 with the win and Bowling Green loses its fourth consecutive match to fall to 7-7. The Falcons will host Akron Friday night in the team's MAC opener at 7 p.m. before hosting Buffalo Saturday at 3 p.m.