GREENVILLE, Pa. – The top-seeded Thiel Tomcats will host the No. 6 Bethany Bison Saturday in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament title match.
Saturday's title match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium.
The Tomcats earned their spot in the title tilt with a 3-1 championship tournament semifinal win Thursday over the fifth-seeded Chatham Cougars. Bethany defeated second-seeded Grove City 3-2 in the tournament's other semifinal.
Thiel won the first two sets 25-22, 25-20. The Cougars won the third game 25-18, but the Tomcats iced the victory with a 25-20 win in the fourth set.
Maria Torres (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) led the Tomcats with 13 kills on the night to go along with 13 digs and three blocks.
Thiel's middle blockers were a difference-maker Thursday. The Tomcats out-blocked the Cougars, 14-1.
Jordyn Liedike (Anchorage, Alaska/Grace Christian) led the way with seven blocks while also contributing nine kills. Liedike owned an attack percentage of .643 on the night.
Cassandra Bown (Broadalbin, N.Y./Broadalbin-Perth) had six blocks.
Raquel McDonald (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes) and
Kylee Eaton (Parker, Pa./AC Valley) had three blocks apiece and combined for 15 kills.
Danielle Aulet (Lawrence, Kansas/Mineral Ridge) led the Tomcats with 30 digs.
Brooke Talbot (Calcutta, Ohio/Beaver Local) tallied 20 assists and 14 digs while
Carlie Reynolds (Grove City, Pa./Grove City Area) registered 14 assists and 14 digs.
Amelia Bogovich led Chatham with 19 kills. Alyssa Leskovac tallied 20 digs and 12 kills. Shaelah Pepperman handed out 42 assists and had 15 digs. Meghan Dominek led all players with 38 digs.
The Tomcats, who are hosting the conference championship tournament for the first time in program history, are making their fourth appearance in the title match (2022, 2012, 2010, 2009).
The winner of the PAC title will receive the league's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The PAC is one of 44 conferences granted automatic qualification (Pool A) to the Division III Championship. Selections for the Division III Championship will be announced Monday at 1 p.m.
*Portions contributed by the PAC.
