TRAFFORD, Pa. (Jan. 20) -- Thiel College Men's Volleyball sophomore outside hitter Ezra Oesterling (Shelocta, Pa./West Shamokin) was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon.

Oesterling, the reigning PAC Newcomer and Player of the Year, averaged 12.3 kills and 2.3 aces per match as Thiel opened the 2026 campaign with a 2-2 showing at Wittenberg's Jim Coleman Memorial Invitational. Per set, Oesterling put up 3.27 kills while hitting an efficient .248 from the left pin.

In the season opener against Eastern Mennonite Friday, Oesterling powered Thiel to a five-set win with a match-best 18 kills and contest-high-tying 13 digs for a double-double. The sophomore hit .324 and served a pair of aces. Later in the evening against Westminster (Mo.), Oesterling led Thiel with nine kills and a contest-best three aces. He added a match-high-tying eight digs.

In a sweep of Marian Saturday, Oesterling led all attackers with 17 kills on .375. His 17 kills are tied for seventh-most in a three-set match in team history. Oesterling dug a team-leading nine balls and added a pair of aces in the triumph. The sophomore notched five kills, served a pair of aces and had a team-leading six digs against RV Wittenberg later in the day Saturday to close the tournament.

Oesterling was a two-time PAC Offensive Player of the Week and six-time PAC Newcomer of the Week.

The Tomcats return to action this weekend for a trio of matches at Misericordia's Cougar Kickoff Classic. The Tomcats will battle RV Misericordia Friday at 5 p.m. before taking on Elmira (11 a.m.) and No. 7 Messiah (1 p.m.) on Saturday.