BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Purchase College men's volleyball team opened Skyline Conference play with an epic win Tuesday night, as it bested Sarah Lawrence College in four sets.

Scores for the contest were 25-20, 28-26, 23-25 and 26-24. With the win, the Panthers jumped to 6-6 overall and 1-0 in the league. For the Gryphons, they dropped to 2-9 and 1-3, respectively.

For the match, the Blue and Orange enjoyed their best hitting of the season with a record-high 60 kills over the four frames. All of those kills were important in the end, as three of the four sets were decided by just two points.

During the opening stanza, the action was close throughout as the biggest lead for either side was just two points until late in the set. Trailing by the score of 20-18, the Panthers responded with seven-straight points to earn the tough victory.

However, the victories only got tougher each set going forward. The second set of the evening saw a combined 54 points between the two sides, though it was the final three by the guests that sent Purchase to a 2-0 sets advantage.

With its back against the wall, Sarah Lawrence responded in the third frame with a hard-fought win to extend the match, before the Panthers answered the call in the fourth and final set to seal the win.

Much like the rest of the night, it was the last-minute magic for the Blue and Orange that claimed the victory, as Tyler Ryan (JR/Port Reading, NJ) used a kill and service ace to provide the last two points and send the Panthers home as victors. 

Individually, Nate Matthie (FY/Bronx, NY) finished with a career and team-high 22 kills to power the guests.

Channing Williams (FY/Neptune, NJ) added 17 kills and a match-high 16 digs, while Ryan finished with 14 kills and 15 digs. 

Aidan Araza (FY/Jersey City, NJ) and Mauricio Ramirez (FY/Passaic, NJ) combined for 54 assists in the win. 

Up next for the Panthers is a return to their home court, as they welcome St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn on March 7th at 7 p.m.