GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's volleyball team clinched a spot in the championship match of the inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament by earning a 31-29, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22 victory over third-seeded Hiram in the tournament semifinals Thursday night in the Grove City College Arena. 

Grove City, the No. 2 seed in the six-team tournament, advances to face top-seeded Thiel in the championship match Saturday night. Thiel swept No. 5 Saint Vincent in Thursday's other semifinal, 25-19, 25-20, 25-18.

Sophomore Max Gianneski (Butler, Pa./Butler) and freshman Keith Otto (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) led the Wolverines (14-14) with 14 kills each. Senior Quintin Norris (Savannah, N.Y./North Rose-Wolcott) and sophomore Andrew Kessler (Jeannette, Pa./Penn-Trafford) both added seven kills.

Sophomore setter Craig Fair (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) recorded 40 assists while directing the offense. It is Fair's third 40-assist outing of the season.

Kessler led the defensive effort with seven total blocks. Junior Tieg Malcolm (New Philadelphia, Ohio/Homeschooled) recorded five blocks while Fair and Norris each totaled four blocks. 

Otto and freshman libero Ben McVey (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) each had a team-leading nine digs. 

Grove City trailed 23-18 in the first set but rallied to send the set beyond regulation. The Wolverines warded off four Hiram set points in the set. Fair and Malcolm's double block gave the Wolverines a 30-29 lead while a Hiram attack error then gave Grove City the set win.

The 2025 season is the first season of men's volleyball in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. It is also Grove City's first season of intercollegiate varsity competition in the sport. 

Thiel twice topped Grove City in four sets during the double round-robin conference schedule. Thiel went 12-0 in conference play while the Wolverines finished 8-4.

Saturday's title match will start at 7 p.m. in Greenville. The winner earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.