Purchase, NY (Feb. 17, 2018) – Luke Kubisch and Andreo Otiniano proved a formidable one-two punch Saturday at Purchase.

The Panther duo teamed as a driving force in leading the hosts to a solid 3-1 (25-23, 25-13, 14-25, 25-22) victory over Medgar Evers College – Purchase's first of the spring campaign.

Kubisch (JR/Delmar, NY) posted a team-high 14 kills, while Otiniano (SO/Mamaroneck, NY), the team's setter, registered a team-high 23 assists and a game-high 16 digs.

In the first set, Purchase trailed 2-0, but quickly recovered, cutting it to 2-1. Kubisch one of his team-high three aces to knot the set at 2-2.

It wasn't long before the set was even at 5-5. Medgar put together a spurt and led 9-6.

The Cougars (2-2) increased their advantage to 11-6 on an ace by Abdul Kamara.

Purchase (1-4) countered with a nice run, as Thomas Slomka (SO/Orchard Park, NY) recorded an ace to cut the deficit to 11-9.

The momentum swing continued in the opening frame. Otiniano tied it at 12-12 on an ace of his own.  

A Christian Colon (FR/Bronx, NY) solo block made it 13-12 and Purchase went further ahead on an error, leading 14-12. The lead change prompted a timeout by the visitors.

Nonetheless, Purchase pushed forth. The Panthers led 16-14 and shortly later 22-19.

Kubisch, an outside hitter, helped the hosts close out the set on a kill to make it 23-20.

Medgar rallied for three of the next four points to come within one, 24-23.

Purchase head coach Chris Husmann called a timeout.

It proved key. Masaya Funakoshi (SO/Tarrytown, NY) delivered the set-winning kill for the Panthers in the 25-23 first set.

In the second game, behind Slomka's serve, the Panthers were up 3-0 at the start.

Slomka reeled off six straight points in the serve as Medgar called a timeout to regroup.

The Cougars got two back but Purchase regrouped and led 11-3 and 15-7.

A Griffin Rapp (SR/Rochester, NY) kill made it 16-7 in favor of the Panthers, who finished off the set in a 25-13 final – their best set of the day.

In the third, the visitors rebounded. Medgar led 3-0 at the outset and increased that margin to 5-2
and 8-2.

The lead ballooned to 13-4 as Medgar used the big start to finish off the match 25-14 – its best set of the day.  

The fourth was a see-saw battle. Purchase led 2-1 and 4-2 in the early going, but the Cougars showed some resilience of their own. They tied the set at 8-8.

The Panthers rallied for a 13-12 lead, but the set was tied again at 14-all.

Purchase won six of the next nine points played to go up 20-17.

That's when the set shifted. Purchase sealed the win with a joint block by Funakoshi and Slomka, winning the fourth set 25-22.  

Colon and Slomka followed Kubisch, netting seven kills apiece.

Medgar was led by Enmanuel Jaquez and his match-high 16 kills. He also totaled three blocks in the loss. Kareem Cyrus finished with a match-high 31 assists, while Johan Jimenez added a team-high 15 digs.