ANDERSON ARENA MEMORIES FROM BGSUFALCONS.COM!

Throughout the 2010-11 season, the BGSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will be celebrating the storied history of Anderson Arena, as we are 'Closing the Doors of the House That Roars' and preparing for the opening of the Stroh Center in the fall of 2011.

To share your favorite memory of Anderson Arena or to keep up with the latest Stroh Center happenings, Click Here. We will be posting some of your fondest memories of Anderson here at BGSUFalcons.com in the coming weeks and months.

Stephanie Swiger was one of the top players in BGSU volleyball history. A two-time All-MAC First-Team selection, she finished her career in 2007 ranked among the school's all-time leaders in kills, hitting percentage and blocks. Stephanie clicked here and shared some memories of one of her favorite evenings at Anderson Arena.

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As a former volleyball player I have many wonderful memories of practicing and competing in Anderson arena. Volleyball players experience both the heat of preseason in August with no air conditioning and the cold of chilly, blustery Bowling Green in November. Even with these extremes there was no greater feeling than running out of the players entrance to the sounds of fans cheering right on the edge of the court.

My favorite memory in Anderson Arena by far happened my junior year of college (2006). We had a tremendously successful season, going 26-6. It was a season in which we reset multiple school records including the longest winning streak at 17 matches which climaxed with the showdown between Ohio University and the mighty Falcons at home at the end of October. Both teams were undefeated in MAC play and the MAC regular season crown came down to this match.

The crowd that arrived at Anderson Arena that night set a new attendance record for volleyball. We had never seen anything like it. It was unbelievable to look at the crowd from the court and to see people sitting, filling both sides of the gym up to the windows for a volleyball match. Our wonderful women’s basketball team -- which reached the Sweet Sixteen that year -- attended almost every home match as a group, and they were all there in full force cheering and adding to the noise.

It was so loud during the game I could not hear the play calls that our setter Chrissy Gothke was making. We had never experienced anything like that. The students that lined the court were constantly being told to step back, they were practically on the court with us. The Ohio coach was complaining throughout the match that the students were too loud and were interfering with play, but in reality it is the beauty of the design of Anderson Arena and that is why it is the house that roars.

Swiger in action vs. Ohio University at Anderson Arena

We lost the first two games of the match, they were all Ohio and we went into the locker room needed to regroup. Games three and four were all BGSU with huge kills and blocks that sent the crowd into a frenzy. I liked to consider myself an intense player, and as middle hitter who relied on big offense I always fed off the crowd. I was in heaven that night and so were my teammates. Unfortunately, game five went back and forth before three controversial calls resulted in an Ohio victory. It was a hard fought match by both teams and truly it could have gone either way. Sadly that was the closest I came to a MAC championship during my career at BGSU, but I have no regrets and I cannot complain we had so much success that season and truly put the BGSU program on the national stage.

My teammates and I had the time of our lives that night in Anderson Arena thanks to the wonderful fans that consistently support Falcon Athletics and that night they truly showed up for the women’s volleyball team. I will never forget that match or any of the wonderful memories I made in Anderson Arena, it always felt like a second home to me.

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We'd love to hear about your favorite memories of Anderson Arena. Click here to share them with us, and perhaps you will see your own recollections of 'The House That Roars' right here at BGSUFalcons.com in the near future. Roll Along!

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