Purchase, NY (Feb. 21, 2018) – Regis College entered Wednesday night's match with a 2-5 record, but the non-conference opponent is far better than that mark, and showed it tonight at Purchase.

The Pride improved to 3-5 in a 3-0 win (25-10, 25-14, 25-20) over the Panthers.  

The loss dropped Purchase to 1-5.

The Panthers played well despite the final scores. The hosts looked better in the second and third sets, especially the final game against Regis, where Purchase nearly came from behind to make things interesting.

However, Regis held on, fending off better performances from Purchase over the final two sets.

In the opener, Regis led 10-0 and shortly after 15-4.

The Panthers got a nice kill from Thomas Slomka (SO/Orchard Park, NY) to cut the deficit to 17-6, but the Pride regrouped and led 18-8, despite a Masaya Funakoshi (SO/Tarrytown, NY) ace for Purchase. The Pride won the opening set 25-10.

Regis led 5-2 at the outset of the second set. Four more straight points prompted a timeout for Purchase, which trailed 9-2.

It was 11-5 in favor of the visitors and a long rally between the two increased Regis' lead to 12-5.

The Pride then won seven of the next 11 points scored to go ahead 19-9. That spurt keyed a 25-14 final in the second set.

Purchase battled back in the third. Setter Andreo Otiniano (SO/Mamaroneck, NY) scored a point to knot the set at 2-2.

Regis scored three of the next five points to take a 5-4 advantage. The Pride rode the serve of reserve Angel Pagan to lead 10-4.

But the Panthers showed plenty of fight, getting back into the set at 12-6 and then 19-9 on another point by Otiniano. Purchase libero Christopher Williams (SR/Valley Stream, NY) notched a kill to trim the lead to 17-12.

Otiniano stayed hot and recorded a kill that helped the Panthers get within three, 20-17. His kill moments later made it 22-19, with Regis clinging to a slim three-point lead.

The Pride were able to hold off Purchase down the stretch and sealed the set in a 25-20 final.

The visitors were paced by Drem Beimel and his 12 kills. Brett Krahl added 10 and three blocks to spearhead the defensive effort. Jayson Vega netted 15 assists in the win, while Chris Fitta also turned in a nice defensive effort with nine digs.

Otiniano and Kubisch led Purchase with seven and four kills, respectively. Otiniano added a team-high nine assists. Griffin Rapp (SR/Rochester, NY) performed well in defeat with a team-best six digs. He followed Otiniano and added six assists.