BRONXVILLE, N.Y.  – The Purchase College women's volleyball team closed the 2023 season with a 3-0 loss at Sarah Lawrence College Thursday night. 

With set scores of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-6, host SLC tied its program record for Skyline wins with six total. The Gryphons improved to 11-9 overall and 6-4 in the league, while Purchase capped its season at 5-19 overall and 2-9 in the league. 

Junior outside hitter Lauren White (Washington D.C.) paced the Panthers with seven kills (.200) and added nine digs and one assist. Freshman outside hitter Marcella Pena (Bronx, NY) chipped in with four kills and one ace, while leading the defensive effort with a match-high 13 digs. Freshman setter Natalia Leite (Thornwood, NY) recorded 12 assists, five digs and one kill, while junior Aliya Deen tallied 11 digs and two assists.

In the first set, the Gryphons surged ahead with a score of 8-3, boosted by a pair of Georgi Massey aces. SLC extended its lead to 11-4 with a kills from Athena Kazos and Skyler Kawecki-Muonio. Following back-to-back Purchase kills from Pena and Leite, respectively, Sarah Lawrence mounted a seven-point scoring streak to pull ahead 19-7. The Gryphons maintained control and ultimately secured the set with a score of 25-10, thanks to another decisive kill by Kawecki-Muonio.

The second set presented a different narrative, as the Panthers quickly took a 10-3 lead. Freshman middle Ava Landreth (Brooklyn, NY) ignited the run with a kill and Pena capped it with an ace.  The Gryphons fought back, narrowing the gap to six points before embarking on a seven-point run, seizing a 14-13 lead. After a tying kill from Purchase, the Gryphons rallied with 11 unanswered points to secure the 25-14 win.

The third set was a dominating performance from start to finish by the Gryphons. They claimed the first 15 points, with Massey and Carolyn Kelly combining for seven kills in the initial exchanges. Purchase finally managed to score, but it proved insufficient as Mia Rector's service ace sealed a resounding 25-6 set victory, securing a 3-0 match win for the Gryphons.

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