Purchase, NY (Oct. 14, 2015) – Albertus Magnus escaped three close sets to edge Purchase 3-0 Wednesday night.

The Falcons won 25-21, 26-24 and 25-17 to improve to 3-12. Despite another spirited effort, Purchase falls to 0-15.

Magnus opened in the first set on a 5-2 lead, but the Panthers tied it 5-all and recaptured the lead, 8-6. The two clubs would be tied at 10-10 and 12-12 before the visitors pushed the lead to 18-13. That's when Purchase called a timeout and setter Alex Lally (JR/Sunnyvale, TX) closed the gap on her serve, 18-17.

But the Falcons responded with another run, going back up 22-19 and prompting another timeout from the hosts. This time, Magnus closed the set, winning three of the next five points.

The see-saw battle continued in the second set. Purchase leapt out to a 13-10 margin, but the visitors rallied for a 16-14 lead.

However, Purchase showed its poise and no-quit attitude, tying the match at 17-all before taking a 20-18 lead. The set was highlighted by a backhanded kill from Lally and some good ball movement from libero Victoria Blum (JR/Bronx, NY).

Purchase increased that margin to 23-20 and shortly later 24-21 in the second set. The Falcons answered again, striking for three straight to make the score 24-24. Albertus Magnus then sealed the rally with back-to-back scores, including an ace to close the set, 26-24.

In the third set after the two teams opened with another back-and-forth rally that was tied at four, the Falcons reeled off five straight points for a 9-4 advantage. That lead would stay around five to six points throughout.

The Panthers once again showed their mettle, closing within 19-13.

But the Falcons were too strong. Magnus added two more points for a 21-13 score and another timeout from the hosts before the Falcons won four of the next eight points, holding off another Panther push to close the set 25-17 and the match in three. 

The Falcons were paced by Megan Gritz and Amber Cohens, who shared the match-high of 13 kills. Magnus setter Marielis Muriel handed out a match-high 27 assists. Gritz led the team defensively with 10 digs. 

Purchase was led by Julia Chirlin (SO/Albany, NY) and Lally. Chirlin recored a team-high seven kills, while Lally added five and a team-high 16 assists. Blum led the way on defense with eight digs. Fellow starters Lillian Dixon (SO/Jackson, NJ), Brianna Saunders (SO/Bronx, NY), Jade Hackett (SR/Mount Vernon, NY) and Danielle Holmes (JR/Warwick, NY) also played well, as did reeserve Cynthia Plackis (SO/Huntington, NY).  

The Panthers have five dates remaining on the regular-season schedule, including Saturday's tri-match at Mount Saint Mary.