Reading, Pa. (Mar. 31, 2017) - Thiel College (8-14, 2-9) fought off a match point in the end of the fourth set then took a 15-10 win in the fifth and deciding set of a 3-2 win at Alvernia University (10-14, 1-9) Friday evening in Continental Volleyball Conference action at the Physical Education Center.

Alvernia won the first and third sets for a 2-1 lead and ran off four straight points near the end of the fourth set for a 24-22 lead, but Thiel earned a side out then benefited from back-to-back hitting errors from the Crusaders and finally got a kill from Zach Rombach to win the fourth set 26-24 and level the match at 2-2.

The Tomcats scored five of the first six points of the fifth set, but the Crusaders stormed back to pull within two points, 7-5.  Thiel won the next two points to rebuild a cushion then held the advantage in the sprint to 15 points.

Graduate student Evan Bulcavage was honored on the first senior night in the history of Alvernia Men's Volleyball.  He got the start in the first set and finished the night with a pair of digs.

Alvernia freshman Ralph Lunati had a team-best 14 kills, Justin Gibbs had 30 assists and 11 digs, and Lunati and Spencer Matthews had a team high three aces.

Alvernia hits the road for a tri match at Cairn on Saturday where it will play a pair of CVC matches against Marymount and the host Highlanders.

Thiel 3, Alvernia 2