PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Hunter College men's volleyball team opened its 2026 season in commanding fashion Friday night, sweeping Purchase College, 25-18, 25-20, 25-12, on its home court.

Hunter (1-0) delivered a balanced attack in the straight-set victory, hitting .354 as a team while holding the Panthers (1-4) to a .206 clip. The Hawks recorded 33 kills with just 10 errors and controlled the match from the service line and at the net, finishing with 16 service aces and six total blocks.

Sebastian Gomez led all players with nine kills, adding a team-high .538 hitting percentage on 13 attempts. Wesley Stubbs was highly efficient, finishing with six kills on seven swings for an .857 percentage while also dishing out 21 assists. Eddy Kang contributed six kills on .462 hitting, while K-Ci Akwandoh added four kills without an error.

Ahmed Mohamed anchored the service game, recording a match-high 10 service aces and finishing with 16 points overall. Lenny Arbitman chipped in seven assists and a service ace, while Wyatt Kotuk and Bradley Campos provided steady contributions in all phases.

Hunter set the tone early in the opening set, pulling away late behind a strong run at the service line to take a 25-18 advantage. The Hawks weathered a tighter second set, overcoming multiple lead changes before closing on a decisive stretch to secure a 25-20 win. From there, Hunter dominated the third set, limiting Purchase to five kills and cruising to a 25-12 finish.

Purchase was paced by Udel Phillips, who recorded eight kills on .500 hitting and added three service aces. Hector Ruiz added six kills, while Danny Kanner posted 17 assists in the loss.

The win marks the season-opening victory for Hunter as the Hawks begin nonconference play before opening CUNYAC competition later this season. Hunter's home opener is set for Jan. 27 as the team host's New York University at 6 pm in the Sportsplex.