PURCHASE, NY - The Purchase College men's volleyball team collected its first victory of the 2020 season Friday night, as the Panthers topped the Cardinals of York College in straight sets.

Set scores for the contest were 25-16, 25-18 and 25-21.

Before the match began though, the Panthers took a moment to honor the late Matthew "Dezy" DiStefano.

DiStefano passed away on Monday after a battle with stage four kidney cancer. He was a beloved teacher and volleyball coach at Sachem High School North on Long Island. He was also a mentor to Purchase College head coach Ryan Cole.

Cole, who played against DiStefano while attending Sachem High School East from 2010-14, had nothing but praise for the coach. 

"I was very fortunate to know coach Dezy, but not as one of his players," said Cole. "He coached Sachem North, our rival at Sachem East and also the summer volleyball camp I attended every year since I was 13. Right off the bat, you knew this guy was different. His enthusiasm and passion for everything he did both on and off the court was something I really admired," Cole said.

Over the past year, the Dezy Strong Foundation was created by DiStefano with the aim of helping families impacted by cancer to stay positive. 

"Back in February of 2019, when he was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer, he made it his goal to fight everyday and to never let anyone feel sorry for him," said Cole. "He turned what for anyone is a pretty bad situation into something bigger than himself and that's where his foundation came to fruition."

Cole continued, "His motto 'we get to' really clicked with me and is now something I try to pass along to my team and those around me. People always say 'I have to go to work, I have to wake up early'... well he turned that into 'I get to go to work today and I get to wake up early' and that's something now I truly believe in." 

The Purchase head coach finished by saying, "Nothing in life is guaranteed, but we get to enjoy every day and make the most out of it."

For the rest of the season, the Purchase College men's volleyball team will wear warmups to honor Dezy and his foundation (see photo above). Cole added, "It's a reminder to us that we get to come in everyday and play the sport that we love."

True words indeed.

With heavy hearts, the Panthers still had a match to play. However, once the action started, it was all Purchase. 

In the opening frame, the hosts had five separate three-point or more rallies, which helped them maintain a comfortable margin before winning the set, 25-16.

In the second set, the two squads played a much tighter battle to start, as the teams were tied four times and the lead changed four times before either side hit 10 points. But once the score reached 12-10 in favor of the Panthers, the hosts started to pull away.

They proceeded to score six of the next seven points to extend their advantage to 18-11. York did cut into that margin a bit, trimming the deficit late to make it, 20-17. But the Panthers wouldn't be denied on this special night and proceeded to closeout the set with five of the final six points.

In the final stanza, Purchase once again used big rallies to change the tide early. Purchase scored six-straight points to make it 9-4, before scoring seven of the next nine points to grab a 14-6 lead.

While the Cardinals were able to close the gap late, Purchase held on for the win, 25-21, and take the match in straight sets.

As a team, the Panthers finished with 24 kills, 11 aces and a block.

Jeremiah Huntt (SO/Bronx, NY) recorded a game-high nine kills, while Joe Higgins (SO/College Points, NY) added five kills, six aces and three digs. Andreo Otiniano (SR/Mamaroneck, NY) finished with nine assists, nine digs, two aces and a block. 

For the guests, David Heyliger, Jr. (FR/St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) led the effort with five kills and three blocks.

With the win, Purchase is now 1-4 on the year, while the matched served as the season opener for the Cardinals.

Up next for the Panthers is another home game, as they host Medgar Evers College on Feb. 4th. That match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and you can follow it here.