ALLIANCE, Ohio – Mount Union's men's volleyball team defeated Thiel in five sets, 24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11, Tuesday evening.
 
The Purple Raiders (6-4) were led by Jack McClure (Massillon / Jackson) with a game leading 23 kills and 58 attacks. Will Heeney (Hudson / Walsh Jesuit) had 53 assisted while Peyton Koszelak (Eden, N.Y / Eden) finished with a game-leading 22 digs. Also picking up double digit kills for Mount Union was Camden Weeg (Goodyear, Ariz. / Agua Fria) having 11 kills on 19 attempts while Owen Geissman (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. / Trabucco Hills) finsihed with nien kills on just 13 attempts. 
 
The Tomcats of Thiel College (3-4) were led by Will Zimmerman team-leading 22 kills, 49 attacks, and 7 digs. Ezra Oesterling also recorded 17 kills and 46 attacks as well. The Tomcats were led in assists by Eli Olszowka with 57.
 
The Tomcats won the early set in the match, winning 26-24. The Raiders got out to an early 10-4 lead in the set led by their defense recording five blocks. Thiel College rallied in the middle of the set to retake the lead 20-17, led by their star freshman Ezra Oesterling overwhelming attacks. Despite the timeout called late by the Raiders, the Tomcats were able to close out the high scoring first set.
 
In the second set, the Raiders evened up the match, winning 25-21. The Tomcats of Thiel continued their early success, jumping out to an early 7-3 lead over the Raiders. Thiel stayed in control of most of the set led by their dominating defense blocking each of the Raider's attacks. However, the Raiders kept their attacks coming and were able to eventually break through the Thiel defense late to re-take the set lead 16-13, led by McClure. The Raiders would hold on at the end to even up the match.
 
The Raiders won the next set as well, 25-19 to take the 2-1 match lead over Thiel College. The Raiders and Tomcats exchanged attacks early in the third set, keeping the score close. The Raiders were largely led by their defense in the set with Weeg recording seven of the team's twelve blocks in the match up to this point. After the Raiders took a 20-16 lead late, Thiel was forced to call a timeout to regain the momentum in the set. However, the Raiders would maintain their composure to set up a pivotal fourth set.
In the fourth set, the Tomcats roared back, winning it 26-24. The Tomcats with their backs against the wall, responded out of the break taking an early 9-6 lead over the Raiders. The Raiders' uncharacteristic errors by their defense in the set would also contribute to Tiel's early lead. Tiel's offensive efficiency let them continue their control in the set with a late 19-14 lead. The Tomcats at that point were leading in both attacks and kills with 22 and 11 respectively. However, Mount Union, led by their seniors McClure and Heeney, would rally the team after the timeout to tie the set at 22-22. However, the Tomcats in epic fashion won the match point with a block by Bryce Lizanich to send the match to the fifth and final set. 
 
The Raiders rallied to win the fifth set and match, 15-11, against Thiel. The Tomcats and Raiders came out of the break attacking on offense leading to an early 5-5 tie. Thiel took the 8-7 lead after a kill by the freshman Ezra Oesterling. However, the Raiders continued to battle and regained the lead late in the set 11-10 with a crucial block by Will Heeney (Hudson / Walsh Jesuit), forcing a Thiel timeout. The Raiders continued their overwhelming attack causing Thiel to call their final timeout with the Raiders leading 13-10. The Raiders would never let up after the break as Justin Dickson (West Hills, CA / Chatsworth / SC Legends) closed out the match with a game-winning kill.
 
The Raiders will be back in action again next Friday against Buffalo State at 7pm in Alliance, Ohio.