CHESTER, Pa. – The Widener University men's volleyball team recorded its highest hitting percentage of the season, but the Pride was dealt a heartbreaking 3-2 loss by the Wilkes Colonels in a Middle Atlantic Conference match.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Wil Cacciatore set a program record with 19 kills.
• A. J. Sungenis converted 15 successful attacks as well as 12 digs to record the first double-double in program history.
• Billy Barclay set up most of the kills, recording 44 assists.
• The Pride more than doubled its previous best, delivering nine service aces in the contest.
• Widener hit .225 as a team, more than 50 points better than its previous high.

 
FIRST SET NOTES (25-23)

• The Blue and Gold trailed early, but rallied just as quickly, ripping off four points in a row to take a 5-4 lead.
• With Wilkes up 14-13, Widener won five of seven points, the last coming on an ace by Dave Lehmann to go up 18-16.
• The two teams effectively traded points until it was 23-23 before a kill by Sungenis and a block from Zac Piotti and Matt Blaum closed the first set victory in team history.
• Cacciatore and Sungenis each had three kills while Piotti has two successful attacks and two blocks.

 
SECOND SET NOTES (25-22)

• Widener started the set well and only trailed once at 10-9 before rebounding to score five straight to take a 14-10 lead.
• Leading 23-19, the Pride staved off a late Wilkes charge that saw the Colonels score three of four to close the gap before finishing the frame on a kill by Piotti.
• Sungenis led the way with four kills and three digs.

 
THIRD SET NOTES (21-25)

• After the two teams traded points to get to 5-5, Wilkes scored six of the next seven to take control of the set.
• Widener battled back in the mid-portion. Using a 4-1 run to cut the Colonels lead to 18-16.
• The Blue and Gold hit extremely well, connecting at a .344 clip.
• Cacciatore delivered seven kills in the frame and hit .462.

 
FOURTH SET NOTES (23-25)

• Wilkes broke open a tight early battle, using a 9-2 spurt to take a 15-9 lead.
• Widener got back into the set, scoring five of its own mon Sungenis serve, the last two on kills by Cacciatore to chop the lead to 15-14.
• The Colonels were challenged, but never relinquished the lead. Widener pulled to within a point at 24-24 on an Sungenis ace, but Wilkes finished the stanza on the next point.

 
FIFTH SET NOTES (11-15)

• Widener raced out to an early 6-1 led in the decider as kills by Sungenis, Cacciatore, and Kyle Minder were joined by three attack errors from Wilkes.
• The Pride led 9-8 before the Colonels effectively took control, scoring four in a row.
• Sungenis did some of his best defensive work in the frame, coming up with five digs.

 
UP NEXT
Widener returns to action on Saturday, March 3 when it hosts Messiah at 3:00 p.m.