ADA, Ohio – The Thiel women's volleyball team managed its second split of the season Saturday as play concluded at the 33rd annual Ohio Northern University Invitational. After suffering a 3-0 setback against 12th-ranked Heidelberg University the Tomcats responded with a 3-2 victory over Defiance College.

Chelsea Meister (Liberty Center, Ohio/Liberty Center), who entered the 2011 campaign as a first time starter at the setter spot, earned a spot on the all-tournament squad.

In the Tomcats' 3-0 loss (7-25, 17-25, 19-25) to Heidelberg (4-0) Kelly Barzak (Warren, Ohio/Howland) and Megg Andrews (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) finished with seven and five kills, respectively, while Chelsea Meister (Liberty Center, Ohio/Liberty Center) totaled 18 assists and nine digs.

Despite the earlier setback against Heidelberg, Thiel would find a way to bounce back in its second match of the afternoon to record a 3-2 (28-26, 25-22, 16-25, 18-25, 15-12) win over Defiance College (0-4). After assuming a commanding 2-0 lead, the Tomcats allowed the Yellow Jackets to pick up wins in games three and four to force a deciding fifth.

Alyssa Chine (North Jackson, Ohio/Jackson Milton) finished with 13 kills and 10 digs to pace the Tomcats offensively, while Barzak would add 15 kills. Meister totaled a career-best 41 assists to go along with 10 digs in the win.

The Tomcats (2-2) return to action on Friday, Sept. 9 at the Marcia French Memorial Tournament, hosted by Case Western Reserve University. The Tomcats open action on Friday against Bluffton University at 6 p.m. before concluded day one against the host Spartans at 8 p.m.