ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Thiel College men's volleyball team dropped their first two games of the Nazareth College Invitational on Friday February 11 in Rochester, N.Y. 

Thiel opened the invitational against host school Nazareth College. The Golden Flyers came into the contest ranked # 4 in the country and defeated the Tomcats in straight sets; 25-15, 25-19, 25-17. 

Freshmen outside hitters Grant Kocher (Venetia, Pa., Peters Township) and Morgan Carson (Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs) led the way offensively for the Tomcats as they had 7 kills and 6 kills respectively. 

In game two of the night, the Tomcats once again fell to a nationally ranked opponent; this time at the hands of #10 Rivier College. However, Thiel played a solid overall game and took the match to five sets. 

Thiel came out strong in the first game and took game one 26-24. Rivier then battled back and took the next two games 25-21 and 25-14. However, the Tomcats battled back to tie the game at two games apiece when they took game four 29-27. Rivier then put Thiel away in the final set 15-9. 

Sophomore outside hitter Dante McCoy (Reading, Pa., Holy Name) had a good offensive showing for Thiel as he led the team with 23 kills and also added nine digs for the game. The other captain of the team, freshman outside hitter Kyle Turkalj (Greensburg, Pa., Hempfield), also played very well as he added 10 kills and 5.5 blocks. 

With the two losses, Thiel now drops to 2-10 on the season. However, six of the losses have been to nationaly ranked opponents. 

Thiel will play two more games in day two of the Nazareth College Tournament. The Tomcats will compete against SUNY New Paltz at 2 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. against Medaille.