ERIE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's volleyball team opened the 2016 season taking on Penn State Altoona and Penn State Behrend in a tri-match Sunday afternoon at the Junker Center.
 
The Tomcats dropped their first match to Penn State Altoona three sets to one (18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 19-25) before battling Penn State Behrend in a five set thriller but fell to the host Lions three sets to two (22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 12-15).
 
The Tomcat offense was led by junior outside hitter Cody Patterson (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan). Patterson had a 31 kills total in both matches, including a match-high 18 kills against Altoona on 48 swings. Patterson also had a double-double against Behrend with 13 kills and 11 digs.
 
Junior setter Zach Rombach (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding) recorded two double-doubles on the day, totaling 77 assists and 29 digs. Junior opposite Nate Roche (Cochranton, Pa./Cochranton) also notched a double-double against Behrend with 10 kills and 11 digs. Thad Paunovich (Avonmore, Pa./Kiski Area) knocked down a match-high 15 attacks against Behrend and was a dig away from a double-double.
 
The Tomcats will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 30 when they travel to Owings Mills, Md. to take on Medaille and Elmira. Action from Stevenson University is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.