PURCHASE, N.Y. - In what might turn out to be the most exciting match of the year, the Purchase College women's volleyball team earned a hard-fought win over Maritime College Wednesday night, as the team punctuated Senior Night on a high note.

Set scores for the contest were 24-26, 25-16, 27-25 and 25-23.

With the win, the Panthers moved to 3-15 overall and 2-6 in the Skyline Conference. For the Privateers, they fell to 2-13 and 1-7, respectively. 

As the score indicates, the action was close from the get-go and never let up throughout the night.

In set one, the guests maintained the lead most of the way through, but never led by more than five points. Regardless, the Panthers were right there at the end, tying things at 24-all, before ultimately falling, 26-24.

The hosts flipped the script in set two though, as they raced out to an early lead, 11-4.

The Privateers eventually cut the margin to 12-9, but that was as close as the got the rest of the frame. In the 25-16 win, the Panthers tallied four different rallies of at least three-straight points. 

While set two was decisively in favor of the Panthers, the third stanza was up for grabs throughout.

During the battle, Purchase raced out to quick advantage, 7-4, before Maritime exploded for six consecutive points, and 10 of the next 11 to flip the deficit into a 14-8 lead.

Despite the margin, the Panthers remained locked-in and responded immediately with five points in a row. But just as quickly as Purchase answered, the guests answered right back with a three-point rally to push the lead to four points, 17-13.

Purchase then preceded to score three of the next four to trim the margin to two points, 18-16, before another three-point answer by the guests made things 21-16.

Even in face of this new deficit, the Panthers kept fighting. In fact, the hosts responded in the best way possible - with six-straight points to retake the lead, 22-21.

From there, the guests threw another haymaker, scoring three of the next four to push the game to set point, 24-23.

However, the Panthers weren't going to be denied and finally nailed the knockout punch with four of the final five points to seal the comeback win, 27-25.

With the crucial third set win, Purchase was beyond energized as they changed sides in-between sets.

That energy carried into the fourth and final frame, as the two sides traded points initially, before Purchase grabbed the lead at 6-5 and held it the rest of the way.

During the set, the Panthers led by as many as six points, before eventually sealing the victory via a Maria Kuprikova (SR/New Rochelle, NY) kill at 25-23.

The kill was a fitting end to Senior Night, as the team exploded with celebration following the win and partied with family, friends and fans.

For the game, the hosts finished with 45 kills and a .182 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, the guests tallied similar numbers with 44 kills and .147 hitting.

Individually, Samantha Fasce (SR/Yorktown Heights, NY) enjoyed the best game of her career, finishing with a personal-best 23 kills and 15 digs. 

Lauren White (JR/Washington, D.C.) tied her career mark with 11 kills and 15 digs, while Lilith Bastek-Ochoa (SO/Sag Harbor, NY) chipped in a team-high 16 digs and Karina Medina (SR/Brooklyn, NY) tallied 34 assists, 13 digs, six kills and three aces.

Following the win, the team officially celebrated Senior Night after delaying the ceremony before the game.

Among the honored seniors were: Kuprikova, who finished with six aces and four kills, Briana Thompson (Bronx, NY), who had a kill and a block, Anya Febus-Fernandez (Staten Island, NY), who had three digs, Taylor Marsico (Rye Brook, NY) and Priscilla Choo (New York, NY).

Medina had previously celebrated her senior day last season, before she ultimately deciding to come back this year. Fasce will do a similar thing, forgoing graduation this year and returning in 2023.

Up next for the Purchase College women's volleyball team is more Skyline Conference action, as the team travels north this weekend to face Mount Saint Mary College on October 22nd. That match is set to begin at 1 p.m. and you can follow it here. 

PLEASE NOTE: The Senior Night script transcribed below - 
 

The women's volleyball team would like to take a few moments to honor its graduating class on Senior Night. 

Up first is #1 Briana Thompson - A four-year member of the team and an arts management major, Briana has appeared in 34 matches in her career, starting 21 times. Statistically, she has tallied 49 points, 34 kills, seven aces and 24 digs. Everyone please put your hands together for #1 Briana Thompson. 

Next, #2 Anya Febus-Fernandez - Anya is a four-year member of the team and a theatre and performance major. During her time with the Panthers, she has played in 31 matches with ten starts, compiling six kills and 69 digs. Everyone, a big round of applause for #2 Anya Febus-Fernandez.

Next, #4 Taylor Marsico - This is Taylor's first year with the team, and immediately, she has made an impact. So far, the Psychology major has played in seven matches, starting three times, recording a kill, an ace and 12 digs. Taylor is also a member of the women's lacrosse and one of the loudest supporters Purchase College has ever had. Put your hands together for #4, Taylor Marsico.

Next, #5 Maria Kuprikova - Like Taylor, this is also Maria's first year with the Panthers and right off the bat she too made an impact on the team. In seven games, including four starts, the computer science major has tallied 16 points, nine kills, five aces, 16 digs and four blocks. Everyone, please put your hands together for, #5 Maria Kuprikova.

And finally, last but certainly not least, #10 Priscilla Choo - Another four-year member for the Panthers, Choo has appeared in 41 matches, predominately as a defensive specialist and libero. For her career, the painting and drawing major has totaled 117 digs and five aces over 100 sets played. Everyone, put your hands together for #10 Priscilla Choo.

Congrats to all the seniors of the 2022 women's volleyball class. While your playing journey might come to an end here at Purchase, your legacies and memories will continue to live on in you and in the department. So thank you for all that you have done for this program. We wish you all the best! Everyone, put your hands together one final time for your women's volleyball seniors!