CHESTER, Pa. (Sept. 13, 2016) – The Widener University volleyball team dropped its home opener to Swarthmore in straight sets on Wednesday evening at the Schwartz Center. Set scores were 25-6, 25-21 and 25-18.
 
Despite surrendering the first two points, Swarthmore dominated the opening frame and rattled off six unanswered to prompt a Widener timeout. The Pride, however, would come no closer than four points and the Garnet closed out the set on an 11-0 run with Sarah Girard serving to seize control.
 
Widener was more competitive in the second frame and took leads of 7-4 and 11-7 with sophomore Nicole Dorman (East Norriton, Pa.) and senior Brooke Ruditys (Upper Chichester, Pa.) leading the offense. Senior Sabrina Barbieri (Glen Mills, Pa.) set up Ruditys for two straight kills, but a service error on the next play started to swing the pendulum in the other direction. Mehra den Braven finished consecutive passes from Malia Scott to put the Garnet ahead by a 16-14 score to prompt a Widener timeout, and the visitors never trailed the rest of the way.
 
The third set was once again competitive at the beginning while featuring four ties and two lead changes. Swarthmore, however, broke a 12-12 tie on a den Braven kill and scored five straight to catapult into the lead. Another kill by den Braven on match point gave the Garnet the victory.
 
Widener was led by Barbieri's double-double effort. The senior captain and setter finished with 17 assists and 12 digs. Senior Lauren Elliott (Aston, Pa.) also recorded 12 digs, while Dorman and Ruditys added nine kills apiece.
 
Sarah Wallace led Swarthmore with a double-double performance. She finished the match with 12 kills and 11 digs. Elise Cummings added 13 assists and 11 digs, while Malia Scott had a match-high 21 assists and den Braven finished with a match-high 13 kills.
 
Widener next hosts Immaculata on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m.