Old Westbury, N.Y. — Following a four-match road stand, the SUNY Old Westbury men's volleyball team returned home to the Clark Athletic Center on Monday night and defended its home court with a 3-1 Skyline Conference victory over Purchase College.
With the win, the Panthers improved to 7-8 overall and 4-6 in Skyline Conference play, while Purchase fell to 8-11 overall and 7-2 in conference action.
Old Westbury used a strong blend of timely attacking, disciplined play, and steady execution to defeat Purchase in four sets by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, and 25-20.
The opening set was tightly contested early as both teams looked to seize momentum. Old Westbury eventually created separation and built its lead to as much as 20-13. Purchase responded with a late push to cut the deficit to 24-22, but the Panthers held firm and closed out the set, 25-22, to take an early 1-0 lead.
The second set followed a similar script, with both teams battling back and forth in another close frame. With the score sitting at 22-21, Old Westbury used a late surge to finish off the set, 25-22, and move within one set of the match victory.
Looking to complete the sweep, Old Westbury jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third set. Purchase quickly answered, however, and used a strong run to take control of the frame. The visitors pulled away for a 25-16 set win to extend the match to a fourth set.
In the fourth, Old Westbury regained its rhythm and raced out to a 10-4 advantage. Purchase once again battled back and trimmed the deficit to just one point at 18-17, but the Panthers responded with another timely offensive push and closed out the set, 25-20, to secure the 3-1 win.
The victory marked an important one for Old Westbury against one of the stronger teams in the Skyline Conference. With Purchase entering the match at 7-2 in conference play, the Panthers showed that when they are locked in and playing high-level volleyball, they have the ability to compete with and challenge any team in the skyline conference.
Old Westbury was led offensively by Torrence Fredericks, who recorded a team-high 16 kills while hitting .464 for the match. Julius Morales added 10 kills, while Jason Giles chipped in five kills and two service aces. Ashel Santos contributed a well-rounded effort with four kills, five aces, and seven digs.
At setter, Lucas Rogers paced the Panthers with 22 assists and added 10 digs. Defensively, Kevin Alarcon led the team with 12 digs, while Damian Villamil added nine digs. As a team, Old Westbury finished with 41 kills, 39 assists, seven aces, and 44 digs showcasing both their offensive and defensive firepower in the victory. The Panthers also showed resilience throughout the match, responding to every Purchase push with timely plays and closing out two tight sets early before regrouping after the third-set loss.
What's Next?
Old Westbury will continue Skyline Conference play on Wednesday, March 25, when the Panthers host the University of Mount Saint Vincent at 6:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center.
