GREENVILLE, Pa. (March 14) -- The Thiel College Men's Volleyball team posted a decisive 25-22, 25-18, 25-15 sweep of Grove City College Saturday afternoon on Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action.
The Tomcats rise to 16-8 (6-1) as they remain unbeaten all time against the Wolverines 9-13 (2-5) at 5-0.
A 4-1 Tomcats run capped with back-to-back
Tyler Hussey (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) kills in set one pushed the home side ahead 21-17. Grove City got back within 2 at 22-20 before another Hussey kill coupled with a Wolverines error alomg with a
George Schwalm IV (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre) kill gave Thiel set one.
Hussey posted his strongest performance of the season with nine kills on .538 to go with a block and three digs. Schwalm IV added a trio of kills along with two blocks and digs each.
A 6-0 Thiel run with three
Kaleb Proudfoot (Butler, Pa./Butler) kills along with a
Will Zimmerman (Cranberry, Pa./Seneca Valley) block grew Thiel' set-two lead to 15-6. The Blue and Gold cruised the rest of the way to the 2-0 lead.
Proudfoot posted a match-best 10 kills on .533 with three blocks (2 BS, 1 BA) and two digs. Zimmerman smacked seven kills on .333 with two aces along with a block and dig each.
Another 6-0 Thiel run, this time in set three, gave the Cats a 16-6 cushion. An
Ezra Oesterling (Shelocta, Pa./West Shamokin) kill made it 19-12 before
Kafano Samm (New Kensington, Pa./Valley), in his first collegiate action, logged his first career kill to give Thiel the sweep.
Oesterling finished with eight kills, two aces and five digs.
Bryce Lizanich (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) added four kills on five attempts with three blocks.
Eli Olszowka (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) distributed a match-best 18 assists and dug a team-most seven balls.
Ben Lowell (Portland, Ore./Sunset) added 17 helpers and three digs.
Josh Pugh (Wexford, Pa./Pine Richland) and Posh Hovan each recorded five digs at libero.
Thiel hit .365 and held Grove City to .026. The Cats held a slim 7-6 edge in total blocks and a 34-26 advantage in digs.
The Tomcats are back in action Wednesday for a 7 p.m. PAC clash at Geneva.
