GREENVILLE, Pa. – In front of an energetic crowd of nearly 200 gathered for senior day, the women's volleyball squad registered a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rival Thomas More College Saturday at Beeghly Gymnasium.

The Tomcats took the first set, 25-18, but lost the next two - 25-22, 25-20. Thiel, behind their senior class, especially Kelly Barzak (Warren, Ohio/Howland) and Alyssa Chine (North Jackson, Ohio/Jackson Milton), were not going to be denied on senior day.


The Tomcats responded with a 25-23 win in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth set that saw Thiel win 15-11, utilizing a crucial kill by libero Lauren Downs (Mentor, OH/Mentor HS) to put the set out of the Saints' grasp.
 
The Thomas More Saints, coming into today's match, were undefeated in conference play (15-0) and had only lost four total sets in PAC play, totaling an astounding 45-4 record in sets against PAC opponents before Saturday. It was the first time this season that a PAC opponent pushed the Saints to a fifth set, much less defeated them.
 
For the Tomcats, the win clinched the second seed in the PAC Volleyball Tournament that begins October 30. Having the second seed gives the Tomcats a first-round bye and a much-deserved week off before the final four of the PAC tournament, which will be hosted by Thomas More College on November 2.
 
Barzak totaled a team-best 21 kills and a .419 hitting percentage, while adding five digs and two total blocks defensively. Chine finished with her eighth double-double of the season, as she added 14 kills and 21 digs in the win. Not to be outdone, fellow senior Chelsea Meister (Liberty Center, Ohio/Liberty Center) had her eighth double-double of the season as well, finishing with 25 assists and 13 digs.

When asked of his team's performance in the game, head coach Steve Brewer responded, “The team played well (against Thomas More) today and they have finally realized the limits of their potential on the court. The girls have put themselves in a great spot picking up the bye in the first round … It's nice to have a whole week off to prepare for the playoffs.”
 
The win over Thomas More far from clinched the Tomcats an opening round bye- they still needed a win over the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets.
 
After honoring the five graduating seniors, Barzak, Chine, Meister, Megg Andrews (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) and Ashley Donnelly (Ann Arbor, MI/Huron ), Thiel got down to the task at hand and disposed of the Yellow Jackets in straight sets, 25-21, 25-17 and 25-11.
 
Barzak again led the team with 12 kills. Chine added nine kills and eight digs while Meister finished with a team-high 16 assists. Andrews added five kills and 3 ½ total blocks while Donnelly chipped in three kills and one block, securing the first-round bye behind a determined senior class.

Thiel will next be action on November 2, when they take part in the PAC Tournament in Crestview Hills, Ky., at Thomas More College.