PURCHASE, NY – The Maritime College volleyball team won the first set in its match against Purchase on Wednesday night.  After Purchase took the second set, the third and fourth sets were both tight.  The Panthers (3-15, 2-6 Skyline) earned a two-point victory in each, though, to notch a 24-26, 25-16, 27-25, 25-23 triumph over the Privateers (2-13, 1-7 Skyline) at Purchase College Gymnasium.

There were nine ties and three lead changes in the first set.  Maritime built a 17-12 cushion before the Panthers scored four straight points to pull within one, 17-16.  The Privateers regained a three-point edge at 22-19, but Purchase responded with three straight to even the score at 22-22.  After Purchase fought off two set points, the Privateers earned another when Celyna Custodio (Danbury, CT) smashed a kill to make it 25-24.  Erica Pagano (Lawrence, NY) followed with a service ace, giving Maritime a 26-24 set win.

In the second set, Purchase used an 8-0 spurt to turn a 4-3 Maritime lead into an 11-4 advantage.  The Privateers battled back within three at 12-9, but the Panthers scored seven of the next nine points to push the margin back to eight, 19-11.  Purchase took the set by a 25-16 count to even the match.

After the Panthers went up 6-3 early in the third set, a kill by Jessica Mele (Southold, NY) sparked an 11-2 rally that gave Maritime a 14-8 lead.  Purchase scored the next five points to get within one, 14-13, before Custodio's kill started a 7-3 spurt that extended the Privateers' advantage to 21-16.  However, the Panthers responded with six points in a row to go in front, 22-21.  Maritime had a set point opportunity at 24-23, but Purchase fought it off before earning two of its own at 25-24 and 26-25. The Panthers converted that second set point to claim a 27-25 win that gave them a 2-1 lead in the match.

Purchase again jumped ahead early in the fourth set, opening up a 13-7 cushion.  Maritime rallied back, though, tying the score at 20-20 on a Brooke Kirchner (Lawrence, NY) ace.  The Panthers responded with a 4-1 rally that brought them to match point and, after the Privateers won the next two points, closed out the set, 25-23, and a 3-1 match victory.

Mele made her first start since Sept. 26 and recorded a double-double.  She finished with 18 kills on .326 hitting to go along with 14 digs.  Kirchner had a double-double of her own with 37 assists and 11 digs, while Custodio slammed 12 kills.  Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) and Pagano tallied 19 digs apiece, as Maritime held an 83-72 advantage in that category.  Carolina Bersani (Bronx, NY) added 11 digs for the Privateers, who hit .147 (44 kills, 23 errors, 143 attempts) as a team.

For the Panthers, Samantha Fasce led the way with 23 kills and 15 digs.  Lauren White had 11 kills and 15 digs, and Karina Medina also posted a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs.  Lilith Bastek-Ochoa notched a team-best 16 digs, while Maria Kuprikova contributed six aces.  As a team, Purchase hit .182 (45-18-148) in the match.

On Friday, the Privateers welcome Sarah Lawrence (11-13, 4-3 Skyline) to Riesenberg Gymnasium for a 4 p.m. contest.  It will be the Gryphons' second visit to Maritime this season.  Sarah Lawrence earned a 3-0 victory when the squads met on Oct. 1.