Bowling Green State University freshman Amanda Otten sets the ball during a volleyball open practice for media on August 9 at the Stroh Center. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Bowling Green State University 6-foot-3 freshman setter Amanda Otten was named the Mid-American Conference East Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
A freshman, this mark’s Otten’s first weekly MAC recognition of the season, coming after the opening weekend of competition.
Otten led the attack for the Falcons, in the forms of both kills and assists. Otten recorded two double-doubles over her first collegiate matches, recording 23 assists and 14 kills against Ohio State and 17 assists and 13 kills against Northern Kentucky.
Over the course of the weekend, Otten maintained a .491 hitting percentage including a weekend-best .526 against Northern Kentucky. Otten also recorded nine blocks in the match against Ohio State, missing a triple-double by one.
BGSU concluded the NKU Tournament with a 3-0 sweep over host Northern Kentucky on Sunday. Each set was close between the Falcons and Norse, but each time BGSU found a way in front to take the set.
The match culminated with a 10-1 Bowling Green stretch to close out the third set, 25-23, for the win and secure the sweep. With the win, BGSU moves to 2-1 after the opening weekend of the 2023 season.
Otten once again led the Falcons, logging her second double-double of the weekend. Otten finished with 17 assists and 13 kills, both leading the team, to go along with a .526 hitting percentage.
Lauryn Hovey followed on the attack with 10 kills while Jaden Walz added 16 assists for the Falcons. Alex Laboy tallied team-highs in both digs (12) and aces (4) as well for Bowling Green, including being behind the service line during BGSU’s run late in the third set to clinch the match.
On Saturday, the Falcons narrowly missed their first win in program history against Ohio State, going five sets with the No. 14 Buckeyes.
The Falcons took the second and third sets in the match before Ohio State surged in the fourth to force a fifth set, taking the match there.
For the Falcons, Otten continued her stellar first weekend as a Falcon, missing a triple-double by one block. Otten finished with a team-high 23 assists, 14 kills and nine blocks.
Kat Mandly (Perrysburg) added a double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 10 digs while Jaden Walz added another double-double, finishing with 19 assists and 11 digs.
The Falcons broke in the new NKU floor at Regents Hall in style on Friday, winning the season opener over East Tennessee State, 3-0.
The Falcons and Buccaneers played the first of six matches, three for the Falcons, at the NKU Tournament with BGSU taking the match in straight sets.
Strong defense paced the Falcons in the match, holding ETSU to a .000 hitting percentage over the course of the match, including negative marks in each of the first two sets.
On the offensive side, Mandly led the way with a team-high 11 kills followed by Mia Tyler with seven. Otten burst onto the scene for the Falcons with a team-leading 18 assists to go along with seven digs, six kills, two aces and two block assists.
The Falcons will return home to the Stroh Center for their next three matches, hosting the Hampton Inn Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 2).
BGSU’s home opener will be on Thursday against 2022 NCAA participant Loyola Chicago for a 7 p.m. first serve. Bowling Green will then host Texas A&M at 6 p.m. on Friday and 2022 NCAA participant Wright State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
