PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's volleyball team earned a hard-fought victory in the opening set against Purchase College, 27-25, but it would not be enough as the Panthers took the next three sets (25-9, 25-12, and 25-22) at the Purchase College Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.

Yeshiva (0-6, 0-5 Skyline) had a strong match defensively by producing 74 digs as a team. Junior Aleesa Elbaum led the Macs' defense with 19 digs, while classmate Ashley Botnick produced 17 digs and scored three service aces. Rookie sensation Shany Elmaleh had an outstanding match with 14 digs, six service aces, three kills, and a block. Senior Emily Zrihen added 10 digs and three kills. Classmate Gabrielle Kupferman provided six kills and three digs.

In the opening set, the Maccabees jumped out to a 15-11 lead. The Panthers (1-2, 1-0 Skyline) scored the next three points to pull to within one. YU countered as Ashley Botnick scored a service ace to cap off a 3-0 Macs run to inflate their lead to 18-14. Later in the stanza, a kill by Elbaum increased YU's benefit to 21-19. Yeshiva eventually earned a set-point opportunity, at 24-21, but Purchase racked off four straight points to not only jump out in front but earn a set-point opportunity themselves. Kupferman answered with a kill off the set play from junior Zoey Botnick to even the game up at 25 points apiece. Then, a pair of attack errors by the Panthers allowed YU to win its first set of the season, 27-25.

Purchase responded by leading the second and third sets from wire-to-wire on its way to winning the next two games to put Yeshiva on the brink.

Ashley Botnick propelled Yeshiva to a strong start in the fourth set as her back-to-back aces gave her team a 3-1 lead. However, Purchase surged to a 6-5 advantage. Yeshiva shifted momentum into its favor as a kill by senior Daniella Rothman highlighted three straight points to allow the Blue and White to regain the lead, 8-6. Purchase College regained the momentum by going on a 10-3 run to jump back in front, 16-11. The home team eventually inflated its cushion to 20-12. However, the Maccabees fought back with a 5-1 rally, highlighted by a pair of service aces from Elmaleh and an ace courtesy of Zrihen, to narrow their deficit to 21-18. After Purchase scored the next two points, kills from Kupferman and Ashley Botnick capped off three straight points for Yeshiva to narrow the opposition's benefit to 23-21. However, Purchase scored two of the final three points to clinch the set and the Skyline victory.

For Yeshiva, senior Tali Miller had eight assists and three digs. Zoey Botnick produced six digs and three helpers of her own. Rothman slammed home two kills, senior Devorah Batt provided an ace and a dig, and rookie Racheli Gottesman provided a dig.

For Purchase, senior Samantha Fasce led the way with nine kills, 20 digs, four assists, and a service ace.

Yeshiva's Skyline road trip will conclude on Thursday with a match at Mount Saint Mary College. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.