KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2024) - USMMA Volleyball rode a highly-efficient offensive performance to take down the Purchase Panthers in three sets at home on Thursday night in the Skyline Conference finale. The Mariners are now 18-6 (9-2 Skyline) on the season, while the Panthers fell to 6-15 (3-8 Skyline) in defeat.
 
Match Link

• Box Score 

Senior Elizabeth Kay (Charleston, W.Va) paced all players in the match with eight kills, Freshman Sydney Douglas (Herndon, Va.) finished just behind her with seven kills, and Sophomore Erin Stillinger (Keller, Texas) chipped in six more. Douglas and senior Virginia Robert (Lynchburg, Va.) both dug out 14 balls, while freshman setter Kylie Creech (Osceola, Ind.) recorded 17 assists.
 
King's Point came out hot in the first set, racing out to a 13-3 lead early behind three kills from Kay, two from Douglas, and one more from freshman Sophia Murray (Conroe, Texas). The Mariner lead got as wide as 19-5, but the Purchase Panthers found their stride in the middle portion of the first set. They went on an 11-4 run of their own to trim the deficit to 22-16 USMMA at one point, putting a scare into the Mariners. However, KP closed on a 3-1 run to win the first set.
 
The second set began with a service ace from the Panthers, but the Mariners then ripped off a 14-4 stretch to quickly establish control of the action with Kay and freshman Jenny Dyke (Grand Rapids, Mich.) each recording a couple of kills. Purchase played the Mariners more competitively down the back half of the set, but could never close the gap as USMMA won the set 25-13.
 
The third set began nearly identically to the previous one, with a Purchase point followed by a 14-4 run by the hosts USMMA. Once again, the Mariners held Purchase at arm's length the rest of the way in a 25-12 set win for King's Point, and a straight set victory for the match.
 
That was the final regular season home match for USMMA, as they hit the road for the Vassar Tri-Match on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Mariners have also clinched a postseason berth, and will be hosting at least one match next week. Stay tuned to usmmasports.com and USMMA social media for more updates on postseason play.

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