Box Score
Purchase, NY (Jan. 28, 2014) – A quick start didn't translate into the win column on opening night for the Purchase College men's volleyball team, but the Panthers looked much improved in a competitive 3-1 loss to non-conference Brooklyn College.
The Panthers won the opening set 25-23 before Brooklyn rallied over the final three sets, taking the second, 25-17, and the third and fourth by the same score, 25-18, to close out the 3-1 victory.
Purchase, which fell to 0-1, sprinted out to an 8-3 margin in the first game and increased the lead to 11-3 on the serve of Kevin Carges (FR/Brockport, NY).
However, the Bulldogs fired back and came within 14-10, prompting a timeout by Purchase head coach Tom Callahan. The score would then be tied 15-15 and later 18-18 and 21-21 and 23-23 before Carges recorded a kill and the Panthers came up with a stop for the early lead.
Brooklyn (2-3) answered back in the second set, using a quick 5-0 lead to spur on a late 16-12 margin. The Panthers fought back and actually tied the set at 9-9, but the second spurt by the visitors proved to be the difference in tying the match.
With the momentum swinging in their direction, the Bulldogs led 6-2 in the third set, but the Panthers once again showed their mettle, tying the game at 6-6 and 7-7 before Purchase reeled off three straight points, highlighted by the serve of Kevon Kareem Bruce (SR/Hayes, Jamaica).
The third set would be tied at 13 apiece, but then Brooklyn put together another late run to close out the set, taking a five-point margin (20-15) en route to the win.
Another strong start for the Bulldogs in the fourth set propelled them to the win. Brooklyn led 15-9 early. The Panthers cut a late deficit (21-16), but the Bulldogs rallied for the 25-18 final.
Timothy Hui paced Brooklyn with 17 kills. He added three assists. Setter Hoyin Ki finished with a match-high 33 assists. Ricky Myint and David Dimitruk contributed 14 and 11 kills, respectively.
In the loss, Carges led the Panthers with 12 kills and Bruce followed with six, while newcomers Riley Damerell (Fr/Rochester, NY) and Andrew Schwab (FR/Merrick, NY) totaled four apiece. Schwab also led the team in assists with 19. Carges, Damerell and Matthew McCarthy (SO/Fayetteville, NY) played well defensively, registering seven digs each to share the team lead. Kareem Bruce, Chris Lynch (SR/East Islip, NY) and Chase Lokke (SO/Granite Bay, CA) also performed well in the season opener.
Purchase returns to action Thursday at Lehman College.
