Thiel men's volleyball team falls 3-0 to Dominican University in NCAA Play-In Round

Thiel's historic 2026 season ends in straight-set loss to No. 15 Dominican University

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:53am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a men's volleyball match, with the players and court fragmented into overlapping planes of bright team colors.Thiel College's historic men's volleyball season ends in a hard-fought loss to a higher-ranked opponent in the NCAA Tournament.Kenosha Today

The Thiel College Men's Volleyball team's historic 2026 season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament Play-In Round, as they fell to No. 15 Dominican University (Ill.) in straight sets by scores of 26-24, 25-18 and 25-17 on Thursday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Why it matters

Thiel College's men's volleyball team had a breakthrough season, earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. However, they were unable to advance past the Play-In Round against a higher-ranked opponent, ending their Cinderella run.

The details

Thiel lost in straight sets to Dominican University, falling 26-24, 25-18 and 25-17. Dominican University, ranked No. 15 in the nation, proved too strong for the upstart Thiel squad.

  • The match took place on Thursday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Thiel College Men's Volleyball

The men's volleyball team from Thiel College, making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after a historic 2026 season.

Dominican University

The No. 15 ranked men's volleyball team from Dominican University in Illinois, who defeated Thiel College in the NCAA Tournament Play-In Round.

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The takeaway

Thiel College's men's volleyball team made great strides this season, earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. While they were unable to advance past the Play-In Round, their historic campaign will serve as a building block for the program's future success.