Purchase, NY (Sept. 2, 2010) – Despite a spirited effort by the Purchase Panthers women's volleyball team, it was the Manhattanville Valiants who emerged triumphant in Thursday night's season opener.

However, the Panthers' energetic attitude on the court sustained them well throughout the three grueling sets. They most certainly gave the Valiants a tough match.

Purchase dominated through the first ten minutes of the opening set, but as the game progressed the scores grew closer and closer together. There was a period of about two minutes where the set became incredibly intense, with each team one-upping the other point-by-point. What had been a 15-15 game eventually turned into a 20-20 showing. The Panthers tried to capitalize on this, but the Valiants managed to bring the game to a close, 25-20.

Mahattanville used the opening set to fuel a 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 victory.

The second and third sets were varied in their scoring, but only slightly. The Panthers ended game two with a 25-15 loss. The Valiants' players had their most amount of kills during that game, and that was what ended up being the key to their win. Game three proved to be grueling, and despite an eventual loss, the Panthers succeeded in giving the Manhattanville players a run for their collective money in another close finish.

Olivia Hintz (JR/East Aurora, NY) and Erika Stahl (SR/Mahopac, NY), both of whom had four kills, paced Purchase. Standout transfer Rebecca Dittler (JR/Elmira Heights, NY) and All-Skyline returnee Taylor Edelmann (SO/Bethel, CT) were close by with three kills apiece.

The Valiants used a balanced offensive attack and some solid defensive play to give head coach Daniel Cruz his first collegiate victory. For Manhattanville, the victory is the team's fourth consecutive season-opening win dating back to the re-establishment of the program in 2007 and helped retain its Anderson Hill Road bragging rights over Purchase, as the Valiants moved to 7-0 all-time against their neighbors from up the road.

No Valiant had an outstanding offensive game, but every player recorded at least one kill and one service ace as the visitors managed to capitalize on multiple Purchase errors and win all the key points. Junior Damaris Morales led all players with six kills, while freshmen Susy Camaj and Jocelyn Branca posted five kills each in their collegiate debuts.

The Panthers will look to bounce back next Tuesday at home, when they welcome Brooklyn College to Purchase for a 7 p.m. start.