Panthers Volleyball Falls in Semi-final Game Against Manhattanville
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Lena Flamm
After an outstanding regular season for the Purchase Panthers men’s volleyball team, one that started with nine losses in the first 10 games and ended with the team emerging as the number two seed in the conference, the Panthers were set to take on the Manhattanville Valiants at home- just their second home semi-final game in program history.
After losing against the Valiants on their home court (just a mile and a half down the road) in the first round of the playoffs last year, fans were hoping the Panthers, finally having home court advantage, would have a chance to flip the script. With 200 in attendance, though, the campus’ proximity meant about half the screaming fans were cheering for Manhattanville.
The game started off on even footing, with both teams scoring points in back-to-back succession, the sounds of cheering moving back and forth from the two sides of the gymnasium bleachers. Panthers freshman opposite hitter Danny Kanner came in clutch early in the game, leading kills with five of the team’s 15 in the set overall.
While the Valiants were scoring consistently, the Panthers managed to stay a few points ahead almost the entire set, increasing the lead before clinching it 25-19. After winning their last three games, all of which saw them gain incredible momentum after dominating the first set, the Panthers were off to a hot start.
Throughout the season, it seemed the key to the team’s success was early confidence, and they’d just gotten it by keeping Manhattanville under 20 points. But while Purchase fans were hopeful it could be a straight-set victory, the tide started to turn in Set two.
Purchase once again took the lead early, with junior outside hitter Jael Martinez an offensive menace at the net, bringing the score to 10-5. However, it was then that the Valiants began to gain traction, freshman Trevor Kolar and sophomore Kyle Simmons emerging as a dominant OH and OPP duo with rally-ending kills, and after tying the set at 12, the Vals took an increasing lead, winning the second set 25-17. While Panthers coach Dean Bennett had faced Manhattanville as an opponent before, he admitted it was Simmons who caught him off guard. The hitter was the Valiants’ lead scorer before getting injured, and had made his return to the team just two weeks before the semi-final. Per Coach Bennett, “We didn’t have much exposure to [Simmons], we didn’t have much film.”
After both teams had shown the other what they were capable of, the third set was a tense one. Simmons and junior OH Joe Gandarillas were the invaluable scoring pair that set for the Vals, producing five kills and an ace each. Simmons, Gandarillas, Kolar and junior Wilton Martinez were responsible for the team’s impressive four aces in the third. It was Udel Phillips, the 6 '6 junior middle blocker, who was the hero for Purchase, with eight kills in the set, half of which scored in the crucial moments after both teams had crossed the 20-point threshold. Phillips had scored his 500th career kill just two games previous and was showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
“My motivation is just to keep going, and set new records,” Phillips said. “I play volleyball for the people around me. I’m not selfish, I’m not trying to play for awards. But I do appreciate my teammates, my coach, and everybody who got me to this point.”
In the set overall, there were six lead changes and a whopping 16 tied score moments. For a Purchase fan, the set’s final minutes were some of the game’s most agonizing. After the teams were tied at 24, the Panthers took a one-point lead three times in a row but could not close the deal and win by two. In the end, the Valiants took the set 29-27.
The energy was shifting in the Purchase gymnasium, and not only was the Manhattanville team gaining confidence after a hard-won set, but their 100 fans in the crowd, sporting black and red, were screaming so loud, it didn’t quite feel like a Purchase home game anymore.
It had been three months since the last time Purchase had been trailing 1-2 after three sets and gone on to win the game, but it had occurred in the second game of the regular season. It was plausible again now if the Panthers were able to stay a focused unit and stay on top of service errors.
The fourth was a string of nail-biting rallies. After impressive rally-ending kills from Kolar and Panthers’ sophomore Hector Ruiz gave both teams their first points on the board, it proved to be another neck-and-neck set. After nine score ties, the final minute of the fourth saw Manhattanville up 24-22. With one point, the Valiants could punch their ticket to the championship and send the Panthers packing. But in three points, Purchase could clinch the set and even the odds, giving them a fresh start going into the fifth.
With 200 pairs of eyes watching intently and 200 pairs of lungs holding their breath, the Panthers’ Martinez prepared to serve. As the ball went soaring out of bounds and the whistle blew, the stands shook with the force of an earthquake from the Manhattanville fans’ impassioned celebration. It was obvious from the moment the victory was called that the sheer number of fans who had traveled to support their team had made a difference.
Despite the crushing disappointment, the Panthers continued to hold their heads high. Earlier that day, five players had been named to the Skyline All-Conference team (Martinez, Ruiz, Phillips, Kanner and libero Joey Toscano). Martinez finished with a team-high 296 points this season, sixth-most points and kills in the conference overall, and Toscano with 246 digs, second-most in the conference. Kanner finished his first year with 47 aces, second-most in the conference, and 756 assists, second-most in Purchase program history. It was, without a doubt, a strong year for the volleyball team, despite its challenges.
“I said in our team huddle just a few minutes ago to my guys, we’re going all the way next year,” Coach Bennett said at the post-game press conference. “No kidding. When the guys return, they will remember this moment, remember what it feels like. Last year we lost at their house, this year we lost at ours. We didn’t get the job done tonight; however, I’m aware of a few changes and new additions coming in next year.” Phillips agreed, adding that he was grateful for experiencing this journey alongside his teammates. “It’s like we’re a family on and off the court… in the end, you know, we push through. We’re always there for each other, it’s like ‘You messed up, you gotta keep your head up, you’re doing good, just get the next one.’”
While Bennett remained tight-lipped as to the changes and additions the team would undergo in the 2027 season, he promised this much: “We’re coming with a vengeance for sure.”
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