SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Jan. 16) -- The Thiel College Men's Volleyball team fell in straight sets to Westminster College (Mo.) in Wittenberg University's Jim Coleman Memporial Invitational from 1929 Gymnasium Friday Evening.
The Tomcats dip to 1-1 while the Blue Jays rise to 4-1 with set score wins of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-20.
Thiel used a 5-2 run in set one capped with an
Ezra Oesterling (Shelocta, Pa./West Shamokin) ace to knot things at 18. The Blue Jays answered with 3 straight before a
Bryce Lizanich (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) kill made it 21-19. Westminster (Mo.) went on to notch the final 4 points to lead 1-0.
Oesterling led Thiel with nine kills and a contest-best three aces. He added a match-high-tyimg eight digs. Lizanich added six kills on .500 with a team-best four blocks (3 BS, 1 BA).
A 4-1 Thiel run capped with a
Will Zimmerman (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) ace gave the Tomcats a 14-13 lead in set two. Westminster (Mo.) answered with 4 straight and 12 of the final 15 to go ahead 2-0.
Zimmerman finished with six kills and an ace along with two digs.
Trailing 19-11 in set three, Thiel tallied 3-of-4 and 6-of-8 to get within 4 at 21-17. A
George Schwalm IV (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre) kill kickstarted another 3-0 spurt that got the Tomcats within 2 at 22-20. The Blue Jays went on to close the match on a 3-0 run to cap the sweep.
Schwalm IV recorded six kills and a block.
Eli Olszowka (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) dished out 13 assists and had an ace while
Ben Lowell (Portland, Ore./Sunset) had 11 helpers and four digs.
Thiel is back in action tomorrow with a pair of matches against Marian (11 a.m,) and RV Wittenberg (1 p.m.)
