ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Thiel College men's volleyball team suffered a 3-2 non-conference loss Friday night to the Johnson & Wales Wildcats during play in the Nazareth Invitational.
 
Thiel lost the first two sets 25-22, 25-20. The Tomcats went on to win the third set 26-24 and the fourth set 25-22 before falling 15-6 in the decisive fifth set.
 
Mitch Patterson (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) led the Tomcats with a match-best 20 kills while also recording three blocks and three aces. Chance Hoffman (Cochranton, Pa./Cochranton) handed out a match-high 40 assists while D'ondre Merren (Brooklyn, Md./North County) led all players with 14 digs. Jacob Burkley (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) contributed eight kills and eight blocks.
 
Jack Pincince led the Wildcats with 18 kills, 13 digs and six aces. Ben Sandt recorded 35 assists.
 
The Tomcats will face the St. John Fisher Cardinals on the road Saturday. The non-conference match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.