Box Score
BRONXVILLE, N.Y.—After the Gryphons fought their way through a back-and-forth match, Sarah Lawrence College men's volleyball scored the final two points of the match to squeak out a 3-2 win over non-conference opponent Purchase College at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center on Friday.

Sarah Lawrence fell behind early when Purchase posted 12 kills against just two errors in the opening set. The Panthers started the match with a 6-1 run and remained in front en route to a 25-15 first set.

In the second set, Sarah Lawrence's attack rebounded while Purchase's offense faltered. The Gryphons tallied 10 kills in the set, while the Panthers had double-digit attack errors. A 5-0 Purchase rally cut into the Green and White lead at 15-13, but a 9-2 run by Sarah Lawrence helped the hosts to a 25-18 second set.

The score remained tighter in the third set, as the scoreboard showed nine different ties and two lead changes up to a 12-12 deadlock. From there, the Panthers caught fire and yielded only two Gryphon points as Purchase clinched the set, 25-14.

With Sarah Lawrence needing to win the fourth set to stay alive, Purchase put on the pressure by winning the first five points. The Gryphons eventually stepped up under pressure, and a 9-2 Green and White streak turned a three-point deficit into a four-point edge at 14-10. Sarah Lawrence held on to win the fourth set, 25-17.

In the deciding set, the teams dueled to an 8-8 stalemate before Sarah Lawrence won four unanswered points to take a 12-8 lead. Purchase answered by winning five of the next six points, and the match was tied at 13-13 with the entire match riding on two final points. In the end, the Gryphons took control with an offensive point, and a Purchase error sealed the deal, as Sarah Lawrence won the final set 15-13 to close out the win.

The team's primary hitters exchanged blow-for-blow throughout the match. Sophomore Gryphon Harrison Holmes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Webb School) led Sarah Lawrence with 23 kills, while Purchase's Taylor Edelmann (Bethel, Conn., Bethel) duplicated the effort with 23 kills to his name.

For Sarah Lawrence, Chris Manfugas (Teaneck, N.J., Teaneck) led the defense with 15 digs, while Ishaan Pujari (Bangalore, India, Inventure Academy) posted 14 digs, and setter Brent Terry (Crownpoint, N.M., Idyllwild Arts Academy) totaled 13 digs; Terry also had 36 assists on the day.

On the other side of the net, Alex Billen-Calhoun (Niskayuna, N.Y., Niskayuna) reached double-figures with 10 kills and had 28 assists. Defender Thomas DeCarlo (Glen Cove, N.Y., Glen Cove) had 12 digs, while Edelmann led the Panthers with 15 digs. DeCarlo also had a match-high three service aces.

The win snapped a six-match skid for Sarah Lawrence (2-13), while Purchase (1-13) fell in its 11th-straight contest.

Sarah Lawrence now takes a hitatus for spring break, and the Gryphons return to their home court on Monday, April 1, to host College of Mount Saint Vincent at 7 p.m.