PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Purchase College men's tennis team battled back from a 2-1 doubles deficit to defeat visiting Hunter College, 6-3, in a non-conference matchup Wednesday afternoon. 

With the victory, the Panthers move to 3-2 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 1-1 overall.

Purchase got on the board first following an 8-1 effort from the No. 1 doubles duo of Julian Szuper (5th/New York, NY) and Eli Palagatshev (FR/Yonkers, NY). Hunter answered back however, netting a 2-1 advantage with wins at second and third doubles.

In singles, Ben Joory (SR/Port Washington, NY) evened the scoring (2-2) after rallying to a 3-6, 6-0, 10-4 victory over Justin Pazmino at the No. 3 spot. Szuper was next in line to finish, recording a 6-2, 7-5 win over Christopher Popovic at the top seed. 

Hunter tallied the fourth singles win to bring the score to an even 3-3, but the Panthers fired back with a 3-0 run to secure the 6-3 match victory. At the No. 5 spot, Steve Mains (SO/Mount Kisco, NY) battled Kenneth Del Sid to a 4-6, 6-3, 13-11 decision. Palagatshev recorded the match-decision, a 3-6, 7-5, 10-5 win at No. 2, while Nikita Kordzielewska (SR/Stepnica, Poland) earned PC an additional point with a 6-7, 6-2, 10-7 victory at sixth singles. The matchup was Kordzielewska's first for the 2023 season. 

Purchase will return to action next week (Mar. 28) with its Skyline Conference opener at league foe Yeshiva University. The Maccabbees will play host to the Panthers at the USTA National Tennis Center in Queens, NY starting at 7:30 p.m.

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