MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel Tomcats lost a non-conference match Friday night to the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops at Allegheny College's David V. Wise Center, 3-2.
 
The Tomcats lost the first two sets, 27-25 and 25-22. Thiel stormed back to win the third set 26-24 and the fourth set 25-19.
 
In the fifth set, the score was tied six times and the lead changed five times. Thiel held a 16-15 lead after Rebecca Dougherty (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank) notched her 10^th kill on the night, but North Carolina Wesleyan scored the next three points to win, 18-16.
 
In addition to her team-leading 10 kills, Dougherty also recorded four blocks. Courtney Grubbs (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) tallied a match-best 38 assists while Alexis Orton (North East, Pa./North East) notched 26 digs. Natalie Zucco (Cleveland, Ohio/North Royalton) recorded 26 digs and seven kills.
 
Also for Thiel, Raquel McDonald (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) registered nine kills while Taylor Williams (Tuscarawas, Ohio/Indian Valley) came up with 24 digs and five aces.
 
Callie Cline led North Carolina Wesleyan with 27 digs and 16 kills while Samantha Butensky recorded 31 digs.
 
On Saturday, Thiel will face the Fredonia Blue Devils at noon and the Allegheny Gators at 2 p.m. Both contests will take place at Allegheny's Wise Center.