GREENVILLE, Pa. (Jan. 27, 2026) – It was a night for rings and stings at Maenpa Court as Thiel College celebrated its 2025 conference title before delivering a crushing sweep to the University of Mount Union. While the Purple Raiders arrived as the top ranked program in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League preseason poll and being on the brink of the top 20 in the nation, they had no answer for the literal and metaphorical reach of Thiel senior Kaleb Proudfoot.
A Proudfoot to Remember
Standing at a towering 6’9″, middle blocker Kaleb Proudfoot was the absolute focal point of the Tomcat attack. The Ginger Giant put together a nearly flawless performance, hammering home a match best 13 kills with zero errors on only 15 swings. His staggering .867 hitting percentage now stands as the second best single match mark in the history of the Thiel program.
Mount Union, which entered the match with high expectations after being picked first by coaches in their division, simply could not find a way to bypass the Senior from Butler.
Tomcat Dominance
The evening began with Thiel honoring its 2025 Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship team in a ring ceremony. Once play began, the Tomcats proved they are ready for another deep run, winning the sets 25-20, 25-21, and 25-19.
Thiel seized control in the opening frame as kills from Proudfoot and Tyler Hussey established a 16-12 lead. Junior Bryce Lizanich, recently crowned PAC Defensive Player of the Week, put the finishing touches on set one with a kill and an ace during a late 4-1 surge. Lizanich finished with four kills and a block to complement Proudfoot’s dominance.
Pinpoint Accuracy
Set two remained competitive until a late 3-1 spurt put the Tomcats up 22-20. Will Zimmerman then took over, scoring three consecutive kills to seal the set and a 2-0 match lead. Zimmerman ended the night with 10 kills on a sharp .421 hitting percentage.
Ezra Oesterling, the two time reigning PAC Offensive Player of the Week, contributed nine kills while leading all players with six digs and three service aces. The Tomcat defense held Mount Union to a .250 hitting clip while Thiel scorched the court at .420.
Eli Olszowka and Ben Lowell orchestrated the efficient offense, distributing 22 and 17 assists, respectively. Thiel also dominated the service line with a 7-1 advantage in aces.
The Tomcats now sit at 4-4 and will prepare for a home tri-match this Saturday against Roanoke and No. 18 St. John Fisher.
Match Stats at a Glance:
- Kills: Thiel 45, Mount Union 27
- Hitting %: Thiel .420, Mount Union .250
- Aces: Thiel 7, Mount Union 1
- Digs: Thiel 27, Mount Union 18