Purchase, NY (Sept. 13, 2018) – William Paterson stayed perfect to start the fall, posting a 3-0 win against feisty Purchase College Thursday night on the road. 

The Pioneers are 7-0 following the hard-fought 25-10, 25-8, 25-7 final.

Although the set scores were not close, the host Panthers pushed the visitors throughout, especially in the first set, where William Paterson's serve proved to be the difference.

The score was 10-8 early in favor of the visitors. The Panthers kept pace, trailing 14-9, but that's when the set turned in the Pioneers' favor. WP outscored Purchase 9-1 the rest of the way to close the set.   

It was tied 2-2 early in the second set, but WP rallied for an 11-4 advantage and shortly later held a 17-6 lead. The visitors closed out the set again behind their serve.

The third set was keyed by WP's early 7-1 lead out of the gate. They took a commanding 16-4 advantage before closing out the set and the match.

Purchase (1-2) was led by Grace Ann Gropp (FR/Webster, NY) and Sommer Code (FR/Bronx, NY). The duo finished with four kills apiece. Karina Medina (FR/Brooklyn, NY) added six assists, while Skyla Schoppmeyer (FR/Oakdale, NY) contributed 15 digs.

The Pioneers were led offensively by Amanda Lembo, Alyson Toman and Christine Griffith. Lembo paced the trio and her team with nine kills. Toman and Griffith followed with seven apiece. 

Griffith turned in a nice effort defensively in the win with four blocks and 13 digs. Kendall Caruso added a match-high 14 assists.

The team's serve was powered by Dakota Apicella, who finished with four aces.