Box Score

Purchase, NY (Sept. 14, 2011) – Head coach Bill Kutner and the Purchase College women's volleyball team treated the home crowd to a thrilling 3-2 victory in the team's home opener Wednesday night.

The Panthers, which started the season 1-3 on the road, improved to 2-3 with an impressive come-from-behind victory over visiting Lehman College tonight. Purchase, which trailed 2-1 early on, rebounded for the 3-2 win in a deciding game that the Panthers narrowly won, 16-14.

Purchase captured the first set, 25-23, but dropped the second, 25-19, and the third, 25-23. However, the Panthers served up a 25-23 win of their own in the fourth and finished off the match with another nailbitting two-point game.

“It was a tough match, both the first and fourth games, and we just found a win to win it,” Kutner said afterward. “Winning a five-game match will give the team the confidence throughout the rest of the season. This was a huge win for us tonight.”
Olivia Hintz (SR/East Aurora, NY) and Jenna Nardi (FR/Yorktown Heights, NY) led the way. Hintz was masterful, recording 22 kills, while hitting .514 for the match. She added nine digs. Nardi was equally impressive, smashing down 15 kills (.561 pct.). She also added 11 digs in the win.

The contributions came from top to bottom, with the entire team helping the Panthers get in the win column. Purchase totaled 62 kills for the night.

Lindsay Navagh (SO/Fulton, NY) and Lindsay Froman (SR/Medina, NY) collected 10 and nine kills, respectively.
Katie Westervelt (FR/Congers, NY) dished out 32 assists, spearheading the offensive outburst.

Defensively, Mickaela Olson (SR/Glen Cove, NY) sparkled with 17 digs. Nardi and fellow rookie Jessie Pagnotta (FR/Lake George, NY) added 11 and eight digs, respectively.

Purchase also recorded 10 team blocks – a season high to date.

Up next, the Panthers will host Sarah Lawrence in another non-conference match Saturday at home. Match time starts at 1 p.m.