CHESTER, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2016) – Sophomore Nicole Dorman (East Norriton, Pa.) smashed 18 kills, including seven in the final set, and senior captain Brooke Ruditys (Upper Chichester, Pa.) had a double-double to propel the Widener University volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Immaculata on Thursday evening at the Schwartz Center. Set scores were 25-12, 25-18, 20-25 and 26-24.
 
Widener cruised in set one by scoring the first three points and never trailed. Junior Lauren Daly (Springfield, Pa.) and Dorman teamed up for a block to make it 10-2, and Ruditys set up fellow captain Sabrina Barbieri (Glen Mills, Pa.) for a kill to give the hosts a 14-3 advantage to prompt an Immaculata timeout. The Pride did not allow the visitors to come closer than nine the rest of the way and easily took the opening frame.
 
The Pride found themselves trailing early in the second set by a 5-3 score before accumulating six straight points with freshman Caroline Dangel (Eldersburg, Md.) serving. Dangel recorded an ace to tie the score up a 5-all before Dorman added kills on three of the next four rallies to put the hosts ahead. Immaculata regained the lead a few times in the middle of the set and were ahead by a 13-12 score courtesy of a Shelby Belk kill, but Widener answered by rattling off eight straight to take control. Sophomore Janie Kalinock (Ellicott City, Md.) prompted Immaculata to take two timeouts during the hot stretch on kills, providing more than enough insurance for the hosts to eventually win the set.
 
Even though Widener found itself ahead by a 7-4 score in the third set, the tide turned in favor of the Mighty Macs with libero Molly Truitt leading a comeback. The senior played a huge role with helping the visitors score 10 in a row by providing four service aces during a run which suddenly made it 14-7. Dorman finished a pass from Barbieri after a Pride timeout, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the Mighty Macs would force another frame.
 
Despite trailing 9-4 early in the fourth set, the Mighty Macs continued to claw their way back after taking a timeout in an attempt to slow down the Pride and later found themselves ahead by a 22-20 score on a Belk kill. The Mighty Macs were in prime position to extend the match to five, but a service error by Madi Curley on set point made it 24-22 and swung the momentum over to the host. Dorman then took over by finishing three passes from Barbieri to give the Pride the 26-24 set victory as well as the match.
 
In addition to recording 18 kills, Dorman also contributed nine digs and hit at a .273 clip to help lead the way for Widener. Ruditys had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs to go along with three aces, while Barbieri finished with 45 assists and senior Lauren Elliott (Aston, Pa.) contributed 23 digs. Daly matched a career high with seven kills.
 
Immaculata (1-7) was paced by Arden Vizzard's double-double performance of 15 kills and 23 digs. Truitt had 20 digs and four aces, and Olivia Zdradzinski filled the scoresheet with 29 assists, four kills and six digs.
 
Widener (3-4) will continue a busy stretch when it begins competing at the Neumann Invitational tomorrow afternoon. The Pride will face Catholic at 4:00 p.m. and Moravian at 6:00 p.m. to open up action at the two-day event.