DALLAS, Pa. (Jan. 23) -- The Thiel College Men's Volleyball team dropped a tight three-set battle with RV Misericordia Friday evening in the Cougar Kickoff Classic from Anderson Sports-Health Center.
The Tomcats dip to 2-3 on the young season while the Cougars rise to 2-2 with set score wins of 27-25, 26-24 and 29-27.
Thiel used a 5-0 run to get within 1 at 20-19 on a
George Schwalm IV (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre) kill. Down 22-20, Thiel rattled off 4-of-5 and 5-of-7 to have a pair of set points at 24-23 and 25-24 but Misericordia fended both off. The home side went on to tally the last 3 points to lead 1-0.
Schwalm IV notched six kills on .364 from the right pin.
Down 17-13 in set two, the Tomcats went on a 4-1 run capped with a
Bryce Lizanich (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) ace to make it 18-17. A kill from
Kaleb Proudfoot (Butler, Pa./Butler) along with a Cougars error gave Thiel a 22-21 edge. The Blue and Gold saved two set points to draw even at 24 but a pair of Thiel errors gave Misericordia a 2-0 lead.
Lizanich totaled five kills on .500 from the middle as he tied for the match high in blocks (three) and aces (two). Proudfoot had a team-high-tying seven kills on .462.
An
Ezra Oesterling (Shelocta, Pa./West Shamokin) kill kickstarted a 3-1 Thiel run that drew the Tomcats even at 24 with a pair of set-point saves. The Tomcats had two tries for the set but were unsuccessful as the Cougars came away with the set 29-27 to secure the sweep.
Oesterling tied for the team high with seven kills while digging three balls and serving an ace.
Tyler Hussey (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) pitched in five kills on .375 while
Will Zimmerman (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) had four kills.
Eli Olszowka (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) distributed a match-best 16 assists while
Ben Lowell (Portland, Ore./Sunset) had 13 helpers and a match-leading nine digs.
The Tomcats are back in action tomorrow with a pair of matches against Elmira (11 a.m.) and No. 7 Messiah (1 p.m.).
