FARRELL, Pa. – In their first game of their own AVI Invitational, the Tomcat men's volleyball team prevailed in three sets over the College of Mount Saint Joseph Friday night in Farrell, Pa.

The Lions of Mount Saint Joseph gave the Tomcats a game in the first set and never trailed until the Tomcats passed them at 19-18 and took set one 25-20. Thiel followed the game one victory with a 25-18 win in game two.

Once again in set three Mount Saint Joseph showed life as they erased a six-point deficit to take a 22-21 lead. However, the Tomcats closed out the Lions with four straight points, with the last point coming off an ace from junior Dante McCoy (Reading, Pa./Holy Name). The ace was the first and only ace for the Tomcats in the entire contest.

McCoy once again led the Tomcat offense totaling 12 kills in 26 attempts. He also notched 10 digs defensively. Other leaders for Thiel included sophomore Andrew Pohlod (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) with six kills and sophomore Corey Hamilton (Meadville, Pa./Maplewood), who notched 30 assists for the game. Defensively, freshman Colin Vitale (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) had 13 digs to go along with McCoy's 10.

Freshman Luke Eschenbaugh led the Lions offensively as he paced Mount Saint Joseph with 11 kills while making just one error in 28 attempts.

The Tomcats, who notched their fifth win in a row, will continue play this evening when the head back to Greenville, Pa. to take on the Fontbonne University Griffins in their first game in Beeghly Gymnasium this season.