BROOKLYN, NY - The Medgar Evers College women's volleyball team played their 2019 home opener against Purchase College at the Cougars Cave on Thursday, September 5.

The Cougars (0-3) fell to the Panthers (2-0) in straight sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-15), scoring six more points than last year's meeting between the two teams.

The match started strong as Medgar found themselves up 3-0 in the first set, after two Sashamoni Burnett kills and a Quiara Brye Bey ace. However, the score quickly flipped to 11-3 Purchase. The Cougars valiantly clawed back to make the score 18-15, but the Panthers were able to close out the first set 25-19.

The second set started evenly, with the score tied at 6-6, before another Panther run made the score 12-6 and maintained the 6-point margin the rest of the set.

In the third set, the Cougars faced a 22-9 deficit and rallied late to make the score 24-15, before Purchase finished off the match.

Burnett finished with a game-high 11 kills compared to just two errors and added five blocks, two aces and three digs. Melisa Wright added a team-best nine digs while Cristina Carnegie contributed 10 assists.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, September 7, when they take on the College of St. Elizabeth at the Cougars Cave at 11 am.