GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College women's volleyball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play at Beeghly Gymnasium with a 3-1 set loss to Grove City College.
Thiel led 10-8 in set number one before Grove City went on a 12-2 run in the middle of the set to take a 20-12 advantage. The Tomcats went on a pair of three-point runs late in the set but it was not enough, Grove City narrowly took set one 25-21.
Set number two was more of the same for the Tomcats as they were never down by more than three points until the Wolverines pulled away late scoring five of the final eight points to take the second set 25-20.
Down two sets to one in third, Thiel took an early 10-3 advantage midway through the set. Grove City would go on a 12-4 run of their own to take a 15-14 lead. Thiel would regain composure and take the set 26-24 to force a fourth set.
Tied at 10-10 in the fourth the Wolverines went on a three-point run to take a 13-10 lead before a Tomcat timeout. After the timeout Thiel went on to win five of the next seven points to even the game at 15-15.
Grove City would take seven of the next 10 points to cement a 23-18 lead, but four straight Tomcat points put Thiel back in striking distance, 23-22. The Wolverines closed out the match winning the next two points to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
Kasey Kohler (New Springfield, Ohio/Springfield Local) led the Tomcat attack with 14 kills on 37 attacks well
Morgan Harayda (Erie, Pa./Harborcreek) collected 11 kills on 41 swings.
Courtney Grubbs (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) dished out a game-high 41 assists.
Defensively,
Peyton Allen (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge),
Abby Triskett (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley),
Alex Geraci (Garrettsville, Ohio/Crestwood), Grubbs, and Harayda all earned double-digit digs. Geraci recorded a game-high four aces in the four set loss.
With the loss, Thiel falls to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Thiel is back in action on Friday as they begin play in the Brockport Golden Eagle Invitational. Thiel will face Brockport at 4:00 p.m. before facing Frostburg State at 6:00 p.m.
The Tomcats do not return to Beeghly Gymnasium until Saturday, Sept. 15 for a PAC tri-match against Chatham University and Saint Vincent College.
