OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Nov. 4, 2015) – After recording a convincing postseason victory at home, the Widener University volleyball team fell to top-seeded Stevenson by a 3-0 decision in the semifinal round of the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Tournament at the Owings Mills Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. Set scores were 25-13, 25-10 and 25-7.
 
The Mustangs improved to 27-7 overall and earned the right to host the championship match on Saturday. Widener ended its 2015 campaign with a 15-16 ledger, which included more than doubling its win total from last season.
 
Stevenson, which has not lost to a MAC Commonwealth opponent since joining the league in 2012, scored the first three points and seven of the first eight in the first set to prompt a quick Widener timeout. Annika Schwartz had two kills and a block assist during the stretch to give the Mustangs a commanding lead. Following the break, the hosts continued to roll and won the frame by a 25-13 score.
 
After a sloppy first set that saw the teams combine to hit at a -.017 clip, Widener got off to a stronger start in the second stanza and only trailed 12-7 in the early going.  Stevenson, however, rattled off six straight by getting three kills from three different players as well as an ace from Karin Schleimer to pull away.
 
Widener came out strong in the third set and jumped ahead 3-1 thanks to a service ace by freshman Kelsey Lee (Chesapeake, Va.) and a kill from classmate Nicole Dorman (East Norrition, Pa.). The lead, however, was short lived as a Pride service error fueled a 16-1 Mustang run that was too much for the visitors to overcome. Kelly McKenzie and Sarah Bollinger teamed up for a block on match point to complete the sweep.
 
Junior Sabrina Barbieri (Glen Mills, Pa.) finished with 11 assists and six digs for the Pride. She will also enter her senior season ranked fourth in the program annals with 2,709 assists in her career. Dorman and Lee contributed four kills apiece, while junior Lauren Elliott had 11 digs.
 
Stevenson, which only committed a combined three attacking errors in the last two sets, was led by Schwartz's double-double performance. She recorded 11 kills and 10 digs to go along with seven aces to pace the Mustangs. Bollinger had 29 assists and six digs.
 
Widener, which does not have any seniors on its roster, is slated to return all of its letterwinners next season.