SALISBURY, Md. – The Thiel Tomcats opened the 2019 season Friday and Saturday at the Salisbury University Sea Gull Classic. The Tomcats went 1-3 at the tournament.
 
Thiel lost its first match of the tournament Friday to Salisbury, 3-1. The Tomcats won the first set 25-22 before falling 25-22, 25-11, 25-8. Cassandra Bown (Broadalbin, N.Y./Broadalbin-Perth) led Thiel with seven kills while Courtney Grubbs (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) handed out 20 assists and Alexis Orton (Northeast, Pa./Northeast) registered 12 digs.
 
In their second match Friday, the Tomcats rebounded with a 5-set win over the Muhlenberg Mules. Thiel outdistanced Muhlenberg 15-11 in the fifth set to secure the win. Orton came up with 34 digs against the Mules while Grubbs notched 28 assists and 16 digs. Natalie Zucco (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) and Raquel McDonald (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) tallied 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Zucco also came up with 20 digs.
 
On Saturday, Thiel was swept 3-0 by the Susquehanna River Hawks, who received 19 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll. Orton recorded 17 digs, Grubbs dished out 14 assists while Brie Bialota (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) notched six kills.
 
The Tomcats concluded play in the Sea Gull Classic Saturday with a 3-1 loss to the Clark Cougars. Clark won the first set 25-22, but Thiel won 25-22 in the second frame. The Cougars went on to win 25-16 and 25-14 over the final two sets. Grubbs recorded 30 assists and 11 digs. Taylor Williams (Tuscarawas, Ohio/Indian Valley) led Thiel with 23 digs while Cristiana Tomassetti (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) tallied 12 kills.
 
Grubbs was named to the all-tournament team Saturday. She contributed 92 assists and 42 digs during the two-day tournament.
 
The Tomcats will take on the La Roche Redhawks on the road Tuesday. The non-conference match is set to begin at 7 p.m.