Eastern Michigan University’s volleyball team lost to Bowling Green State University Oct. 12. Coming off a 3-1 victory over Ball State University, EMU looked to keep their momentum going against BGSU. They opened the game by taking an early 14-8 lead within the first set.
Although the Eagles won the first set, the Falcons showed a defiance that would be a major issue for the Eagles later on.
BGSU cut down the EMU lead and almost took the first set away from the Eagles. The Eagles took charge, ending with a kill and a block by Rachael Iaquaniello to end the first set 28-26.
The second set started much the same, with the Eagles taking an early 12-5 lead. BGSU could not handle EMU’s attack during the second set, only taking the lead once throughout the set.
The Falcons struggled with the Eagles throughout the second set, closing the lead to just two points, but they were too late, as EMU’s Kristen Baker ended the set with a kill from Kim Hildreth’s assist, taking the set 25-22.
While EMU held a comfortable position, leading 2-0 heading into the third set, the resilience of BGSU payed off.
The Falcons took the third set in stride, knocking off the Eagles consistency and forcing EMU to commit several attack errors, which created a late 20-11 lead for BGSU.
The Falcons would close out the third set with a score of 25-13.
“We started off really strong in the first two sets beating BG,” EMU libero Sierra Reed said. “In the locker room before the third game we said they were going to come out strong and that is exactly what they did.”
The Eagles’ woes would continue early into the fourth set as they looked to put away the Falcons, leading 2-1 sets.
BGSU seemed to have found the Eagles number quickly in the fourth set, taking an early 12-5 lead over the Eagles. The Falcons, who are currently undefeated in the MAC, looked to remain that way during the fourth set, never losing the lead.
EMU would gain their scoring consistency late during the fourth set, leading a 9-3 scoring run to cut the lead to 24-20, but the Falcons would prove this rally to be too late as a final BGSU kill would even the score 2-2 heading into the fifth and final set.
Both teams were evenly matched during the fifth set, changing leads several times before reaching a breaking point with BGSU leading 8-6.
The Falcons came out stronger than the Eagles, using momentum to outscore EMU, and took their final point from an EMU service error to win the game 3-2 over the Eagles.
The Eagles had bright moments during the game led by senior Rachael Iaquaniello, who posted 19 kills throughout the game.
Kristen Baker and Kim Hildreth both posted high numbers for the Eagles, as Baker led the Eagles attack with a .259 percentage while Hildreth posted the team high of 50 assists.
“We played really hard, but when it came down to it, BG got the win,” Reed said. “We know what we are capable of and how good we can be just from the first two games, but we have to play that way one hundred percent of the time.”
This loss put the Eagles record at 13-10, 3-4 Mid-American Conference.
EMU will take a four-game road trip beginning Oct. 19 in Akron, Ohio at 7 p.m.
