ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Thiel College women's volleyball team opened the 2018 season at the Mount Union Invitational with two losses to nonconference opponents on Friday.
 
In game one, the Tomcats were swept in three sets by UMass-Boston (25-13, 25-14, 25-19). The Tomcats were in contention early with the Beacons as back to back kills from Jessica Kelley (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) and Brie Bialota (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Plum) put Thiel up 10-8.
 
UMass-Boston would counter with a six-point run to take a 14-10 lead. The Beacons would not relinquish the lead and took the opening set 25-14.
 
The Tomcats fell 25-14 in set number two to fall behind two sets to none. The third and final set was the most competitive for Thiel. The Tomcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third before dropping 11 of the next 13 points to the Beacons to fall behind 11-5.
 
Thiel would pull within three late in the set but were unable to overcome the early deficit falling to the Beacons 25-19 to drop the set and the match, 3-0. Bialota led Thiel with six kills in match number one.
 
In game two, Thiel dropped the first set to Wooster 25-16 before getting edged out in the next two sets by just two points in each. The Tomcats fell 25-23 in set two then 26-24 in the third to drop the match in straight sets.
 
The Tomcats continue play in the Mount Union Invitational tomorrow beginning at 12:00 p.m. as they face Denison University before facing the hosting Purple Raiders at 2:00 p.m.
 
Thiel returns home to Beeghly Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 5th for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup against Grove City College, that match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.