MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College women's volleyball team opened the Northwest Pennsylvania Challenge on Friday with a pair of five set wins over the Allegheny Gators and the D'Youville Spartans.

After dropping two out of the first three sets against the Gators, the Tomcats came back in the final two sets to defeat the Gators three sets to two (25-21, 13-25, 17-25, 25-20, 15-11).

Peyton Allen (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge), Hannah Rossman (Fairview, Pa./Fairview) and Jenny Shelley (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) each collected double-doubles against the Gators. Allen had a team-high 16 kills with 10 digs. Shelley dished out 23 assists and dug out 13 attacks. Rossman had 16 assists and 16 digs. Rossman dropped in three service aces on the Gators.

The freshman duo of Jessica Monroe (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington) and Kasey Kohler (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield Local) each notched eight kills while sophomore Macy Jordan (York, Pa./York Suburban) had seven kills in the victory.

Megan Sweeny (Freeport, Pa./Freeport Area) paced the Tomcat back row with a team-high 21 digs. Lenora Boyer (Delaware, Ohio/Delaware Christian) had 10 digs to go along with five kills for the Tomcats.

Leah Franzluebbers led the Gators with 17 kills, four services aces and four blocks.

The Tomcats kept the momentum from the opening victory to take down the Spartans in five sets (20-25, 25-15, 25-21,23-25, 15-8).

Boyer, Kohler and Shelby Friedel (Columbia Station, Ohio/Columbia) each registered 12 kills in the victory. Friedel added seven blocks (three solo, four assisted). Allen and Monroe had eight kills respectively while Allen secured 29 digs.

Shelley and Rossman both picked up double-doubles while splitting time at setter for the Tomcats. Shelley had 31 assists and 11 digs and Rossman had 19 assists with 12 digs.

Jordan had seven kills along with seven digs and five block assists in the win over the Spartans.

Abby Booth had a double-double for the Spartans with 20 assists and 11 digs.

The Northwest Pennsylvania Challenge will shift to Erie for the second day of the tournament. The Tomcats (5-2) will battle Penn St.-Behrend and Saint Vincent on Saturday. Action from the Junker Center will begin at 11 a.m.