TRAFFORD, Pa. (March 23) -- Thiel College junior setter Eli Olszowka (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon. The honor is the first in Olszowka's collegiate career.

Olszowka is now the third Tomcat to collect Defensive Player of the Week laurels in 2026 and the fifth Tomcat overall to be honored on the PAC Weekly Awards list.

Olszowka posted his second double-double of the season and third in his career with 25 assists and 19 digs in Thiel's 3-1 win at Geneva last Wednesday. He also added a pair of aces in the triumph. Olszowka's 19 digs were a career high and the most by a Tomcat this season in addition to being tied for the fourth-most by a PAC player on the year.

The junior setter is tied for fifth in the conference and first on the team with 478 helpers. Olszowka became the sixth Tomcat ever to eclipse 1,000 career assists on Feb. 12 in a sweep of Bethany on Maenpa Court. 

Men's Volleyball is back in action Wednesday for Senior Night against PAC-foe Chatham at 7 p.m. before heading to Hiram Saturday for a 1 p.m. league showdown.