Purchase, NY (Feb. 1, 2017) – New Purchase head coach Christopher Husmann and his winning pedigree are already rubbing off on the Panthers.

Purchase swept perennial contender New Jersey City University 3-0 Wednesday night in the program's home opener. The Panthers, which fell 3-1 to Brooklyn College in the season opener, got back on track tonight, and in the process, earned Husmann – a DIII national champion and All-American player from SUNY New Paltz – his first career collegiate victory as the leading man.

The Panthers (1-1) dropped the Gothics Knights to 0-2 on the season. The win against NJCU is the first for Purchase since rejoining the NCAA and competing in the Skyline Conference. It marked the first win against NJCU in 16 career matches played for the program. 

Purchase posted set scores of 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, holding off the Knights in the finale after roaring back in the middle set. Purchase, which opened strong in game one, struggled early in the second set before coming back from a 12-2 deficit to win the set. The Panthers led 15-5 early in the first set and despite some resilience from NJCU set the tone for the win.

With Purchase up 2-0, highlighted by the team's comeback in the middle set, the Panthers were tied 12-12. That's when they started to get some separation. Andrew Schwab (SR/Merrick, NY) made it 16-13 on a kill from Riley Damerell (SR/Rochester, NY). That point helped spring a four-point advantage (19-15).

NJCU made one last push before the Panthers closed out the set 25-23 on a kill from Schwab.

Purchase was paced offensively by Kevin Carges (SR/Brockport, NY) and Schwab, who finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Damerell served up a team-high 18 assists. He also recorded five kills and five service aces to go along with three digs, one block solo and one block assist. Schwab posted a double-double, netting 13 assists and a team-leading nine digs, which he shared with Carges. Teammates Christopher Williams (JR/Valley Steam, NY), Luke Kubisch (SO/Delmar, NY), libero Austin Lynch (SO/Verona, NY) and newcomer Andreo Ontiniano (FR/Mamaroneck, NY) all made contributions in the home-opening victory.

NJCU was paced by Jonathan Andrews and his nine kills. Teammate Jimmy Vega totaled a match-high 20 assists, while David Penaherrera finished with a match-high 19 digs.

Looking to build off the win, Purchase returns to action for a tri-match at the City College of New York this Saturday.