Purchase, NY (Mar. 23, 2019) – Purchase College split a pair of Skyline Conference matches in its Senior Day tri-match on Saturday. The Panthers opened the day with a tough 3-2 loss to St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) but bounced back to sweep the College of Mount Saint Vincent, 3-0, in the final match of the day.

Prior to the start of PC's second match, the Panthers honored four-year starter and solo senior Luke Kubisch (Delmar, NY) with a Senior Day ceremony. Including today's tri-match, the veteran Panther has a career total 475 kills and 86 service aces. He is the current team leader this season in points (146) and kills (110), and has capped a stellar career in the Purchase Blue and Orange with a co-captain title.  

"Luke has been an outstanding player and leader both on and off the volleyball court during his four years here at Purchase," head coach Ryan Cole added. "He's hardworking and leads by example. He has a passionate work ethic that drives him to succeed in all that he does."

Kubisch has been a staple in the growth of the program. Purchase Athletics wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Game 1: SJC-Brooklyn 3, Purchase 2 (25-19, 23-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10)
The visiting SJC Bears opened the first set with a 5-1 run to take an early lead. Purchase chipped away over the next several plays, coming within one point (16-15) of the Bears on a kill by Jeremiah Huntt (FR/Bronx, NY).

Both teams exchanged points before a Joey Dyckman (FR/Verplanck, NY) kill pushed the Panthers to within a single point again (19-18). Despite the Purchase effort, SJC went on to close the set with a 6-1 run and secured the 25-19 win.

Purchase bounced back in the second set. After falling behind 2-0 in the opening serves, the Panthers tallied three unanswered points to take their first lead of the match, 3-2. Kubisch ignited the run with a kill and teammate Andreo Otiniano (JR/Mamaroneck, NY) fired in two service aces along the way.

St. Joe's used back-to-back Panther errors to take back the lead (4-3) but Purchase did not relent. Hunt followed a Bear service error with a service ace to give Purchase a 9-7 lead. The Panthers held an advantage over SJC the rest of the way to record the 25-23 set-win.

Purchase tallied its second win of the match in the third set. The Panthers combined for 10 kills en route to the 25-20 victory.

Despite its valiant effort, Purchase closed the match with losses in the final two sets, 25-19 and 15-10, respectively.

Huntt led the Panthers in Saturday's opener with 18 kills and three aces. Kubisch tallied 12 kills and a team-best 16 digs, while Otiniano chipped in with a match-high 34 assists.

Game 2: Purchase 3, CMSV 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-0)
The Panthers returned to their home court for the final match of the day and wasted no time putting in work against the visiting Dolphins of Mount Saint Vincent.

Purchase fired in set wins to open the match and was awarded 3-0 sweep following a CMSV forfeit due to player injury in the third set.

Huntt and Otiniano led all players with seven kills and 17 assists, respectively. Teammate Thomas Palko (FR/Southington, NY) recorded a match-high 12 digs, while Kubisch capped his Senior Day with five kills and two aces.

The Panthers return to Skyline action this Wednesday at St. Joseph's College (LI). Match start is slated for 7 p.m.