PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Purchase College men's volleyball team opened its 2022 home slate with a non-conference loss to John Jay, 3-1, Wednesday evening.  Set scores were 25-13, 18-25, 28-26 and 25-12.

John Jay (2-4 overall) hit .300 as a team in the first set. The Bulldogs jumped out to a narrow 2-1 lead early on and then used a kill, an ace and five Purchase errors to stretch their advantage to 9-1.

Stephen Daly led the visitors to the eventual 25-13 victory with four kills on six attempts without a single error (.667).

Purchase (1-4 overall) fired back to win the second set. Senior hitter Joe Higgins (Bayside, NY) fueled the rally with four kills and a notable five service aces—three of which closed the set and earned PC the 25-18 victory. 

The third set would see seven ties and four lead changes. Purchase held its final lead—at set point (24-22)—following three John Jay attacking errors and a block assist from Higgins and Marcus Garguilo (FR/Port Washington, NY). The Panthers, however, were unable to secure the final point and closed the set in defeat, 28-26, on a receiving error.  

The home team struggled to shake off the previous outcome as they went scoreless to open the fourth stanza, 13-0. On the service from Dan McDonough (East Hampton, NY), Purchase finally broke its scoring ice with five unanswered points.

Following a Purchase point off a kill by Garguilo, John Jay scored four straight for a 21-7 lead. The visitors held a comfortable lead for the remainder of the set en route to the 25-12 win.

Purchase returns to action tomorrow at Baruch College for a non-conference match starting at 7 p.m.