PURCHASE, NY -- The Cannoneers fell to 1-1 on 2016 with a 3-0 silencing at Purchase College Friday night in non-conference men's volleyball play.
Junior David Cutler led all players with nine kills and added eight digs, and Pratt senior Chris Fantin totaled six digs, but Purchase held the Cannoneers to a -.103 attack percentage in the loss.
For Purchase, Kevin Carges led the way with eight kills and a match-best .375 attack percentage. Matthew McCarthy scooped up a match-high 10 digs as the Panthers improved to 4-5 on the year.
A Carges attack error was Purchase's only early blemish in the Panthers 10-1 run to open the night. Fantin sent home a kill that sparked a stretch in which Pratt scored four of five later in the set, but Purchase had since locked up the opening set, winning 25-11.
McCarthy's attack error allowed Pratt to pull within 6-4 early in Game 2, but the Panthers rattled off six straight points aided by four Cannoneers errors, going on to a 25-12 win.
Cutler's service ace gave Pratt a 3-2 lead in opening Game 3, and a Carges service error upped the lead to 6-4. With Haven Gordon at serve, Pratt rattled off four straight in taking a 10-6 lead, looking poised to earn the team's first win of the night.
Purchase scored four straight points to tie the set at 10-10, but a Fantin ace gave the Cannoneers back the lead at 11-10. The Panthers responded emphatically, scoring seven straight points with the help of two McCarthy aces, going on to take the third set 25-12.
Sophomore Brandon Ryan led Pratt with nine assists, and Gordon added a solo block.
At 1-1, Pratt returns to play Thursday night at home against Medgar Evers College at 8:00 p.m.
