BUFFALO (Feb. 15) -- The Thiel College men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Buffalo State Saturday afternoon in non-conference play from Sports Arena in Buffalo. 

The Tomcats fall to 7-6 (1-0 PAC) and have there three-match sweep streak stopped as the Bengals rise to 7-8 (0-0 AMCC) with set score wins of 25-23, 25-19 and 25-20.

Thiel forged to a 16-12 lead in set one on a 5-0 run capped by a Kaleb Proudfoot (Butler, Pa./Butler) solo stuff. An Ezra Oesterling (Shelocta, Pa./West Shamokin) kill pushed Thiel's lead to 18-14, but a 5-0 Buffalo State run gave the home side a 19-18 edge. The Tomcats were within 1 at 21-20, but the Bengals tallied 3 of the next 4 points to have three chances at set point. A Proudfoot solo block followed by a Proudfoot-Will Zimmerman (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) stuff saved 2 set points before the Bengals ended the frame with a kill to go ahead 1-0.

Oesterling posted a team-pacing 11 kills and dug five balls. Proudfoot had a match-leading three solo blocks to go with a pair of block assists and four kills. Zimmerman pitched in seven kills and seven digs.

Buffalo State rolled to a 19-10 lead in set two before back-to-back Tomcats points on a Proudfoot kill and a Jake Dies (Cambridge Springs, Pa./Cambridge Springs) ace made it 19-12. Thiel saved 3 match points and got within 5 (24-19), but the Bengals closed the set to go up 2-0. 

Dies collected six kills, a career- and team-best nine digs and a match-best pair of aces. Dies, the programs career aces record holder, rose his career total to 89. 

Thiel was within 2 (10-8) in set three on a Bryce Lizanich (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) stuff block before Buffalo State rattled off 9 of the next 11 points to go up 19-10. The Tomcats answered with 6 of the next 7 points as Oesterling and Zimmerman each had a kill in the stretch to get within 4 (20-16). The home side fought off the visitors comeback effort to take the set and the match.

Lizanich finished with three kills and one block.

Defensively, Eli Olszowka (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) and Josh Hovan (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) each posted five digs. The Bengals won the battle at the net with 10 total blocks (4 BS, 12 BA) to the Tomcats' six (4 BS, 4 BA). 

Men's Volleyball returns to action Tuesday for a home matchup with conference foe Geneva College at 7 p.m.