Troy, NY (Jan. 26, 2019) – Purchase College men's volleyball brought home their first victory of 2019 after splitting a non-conference tri-match at the Sage Colleges Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers opened with a tough 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-9) loss to the host Gators and rebounded with a convincing 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-19) sweep over Northern Vermont University-Johnson.
 
VS. SAGE
The host Gators combined for a .288 attack percentage. Junior Scott Sanders led the charge with 10 kills on 15 attempts (.600). He added three digs with a block assist in the action. Sophomore setter Ryan Jennings totaled six aces and added 19 setting assists with four digs and a pair of kills for the Gators as they held Purchase to a .000 attack percentage in the match.

For Purchase, freshman Jeremiah Huntt (Bronx, NY) recorded a team-best six kills. Junior setter Andreo Otiniano (Mamaroneck, NY) fueled the PC offense with 17 assists, to go along with an ace and two digs.
 
VS. NVU-JOHNSON
Purchase bounced back in big way to open its second match of the day. Senior outside hitter Luke Kubisch (Delmar, NY) fueled a 10-0 run for the Panthers with four aces.  
NVU recorded its first point of the match on a kill by Austin Walters.

Kills by outside hitters Erick Zajac (FR/Staten Island, NY) and Marc Prado (JR/Manhattan, NY) stretched Purchase's lead to 12-1, and shortly after, back-to-back aces from junior Thomas Slomka (Orchard Park, NY) put PC comfortable ahead, 19-5. The first set closed, 25-10, on a NVU service error.

Both teams exchanged points to open the second set, before Purchase ignited with 11 unanswered points. Standout rookie libero Joey Dyckman (FR/Verplank, NY) led the charge with an impressive six aces. Slomka and Otiniano chipped in with two kills apiece. Purchase won the set, 25-12.

NVU saw its best hitting of the afternoon in the third set. Three lead changes set the tone in the opening minutes of play before Purchase took a 13-8 lead on four unanswered points. Freshman setter Ethan Ellis (Westport, CT) tallied two aces in the run.

The Panthers held the lead for the remainder of play en route to the 25-19 third set victory.

Otiniano led all scorers with four kills on six attempts (.333) and 11 assists. Dyckman, Zajac and Prado contributed with three kills apiece, while Kubisch, Slomka, Huntt and Joe Higgins (FR/College Point, NY) chipped in with two kills apiece.

With the win over the NVU, the Panthers move to 1-2 in the young season.