The College of Staten Island men’s volleyball team is still searching for their first win of the season and their opponents are trying to do the same as tonight CSI travels to face Purchase College in a pair of 0-3 teams to start the 2018 season.

CSI vs. PURCHASE COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (0-3) vs. Purchase College (0-3)
Where:  Purchase College – 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY
All-Time Series: Purchase leads, 3-0
Last Meeting:   February 23, 2017 – Purchase won, 3-2
Players to Watch (CSI): Mark Palencia led the Dolphins in kills last year and is back at it again with 24 to lead the team this year through three games.  Palencia is also the leader in service aces with four and his 16 digs are second of the team.  The digs leader is Michael Liang, who has done well in his debut, adding five total attacks.  Fellow freshman Christian Dumadag has hit the ground running for CSI, as he has collected 19 kills on 59 attacks and is third on the team with 12 digs.
Players to Watch (PC): The Panthers are being led by Luke Kubisch, who is the far and away leader of the team with 23 kills on 81 attacks.  He has also added a pair of service aces and 10 digs defensively.  Andreo Otiniano leads the way with 41 assists as the team’s primary setter and look for Christopher Williams to aid in the defensive charge with 33 digs in total.
News & Notes: Despite the fact that Purchase has won all three previous meetings, this has been a very good series through the last three seasons as Purchase has won each match by in more than three sets each time.  Last year, CSI had a 1-0 and then a 2-1 lead, but could not close it out as Purchase won the fourth set, 25-14, and then the final set, 15-10.  Kubisch had finished with 8 kills in the match, while Mark Palencia finished with 18 in a very productive evening.  Ronald Tisbe powered CSI with 17 digs.  This is the third meeting that the teams have had in Purchase, having last played here during the 2016 season.  Purchase won that contest, 3-1.  The Panthers are looking for their first home win of the season, as they have started 0-2 this year with both losses coming to CUNYAC teams.  On opening day they lost to Brooklyn College and they then fell to CCNY on Thursday of last week.  CSI has started their season with an identical 0-3 record and are 0-2 on an opponent’s floor (0-1 on a neutral floor).  CSI will not open at home until February 27 when they host Hunter College for a 6pm match.