ASTON, Pa. – A balanced offensive effort saw the Widener University men's volleyball team have four players record seven or more kills as the Pride rallied in each of the first two sets on its way to downing the Neumann Knights 28-26, 26-24, 25-20 on Wednesday evening.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Josh Matchett led the offensive attack with eight kills, hitting .467, while setting up his teammates to the tune of 31 assists. He also contributed on the defensive side of the net with four blocks.
• Wil Cacciatore topped Widener with 10 kills on the day and recorded his first double-double of the season, adding 10 digs.
• Matt Blaum posted nine kills for the contest. Dylan Beer came alive in the third set and finished with seven kills.
• Connor Johnson led the Blue and Gold with 13 digs for the match.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Widener trailed in the opening set 22-18 and faced set point at 23-24 before a kill by Wil Cacciatore extended the frame. In extras, the Pride cashed in its second opportunity to win as with the match knotted at 26-26, a successful swing by Cole Nagle and an attack error by the Knights pushed the Blue and Gold to a 28-26 win.
 
In the second, once again WU faced set point at 23-24. This time, kills by Matt Blaum sandwiched one by Josh Matchett as the Pride scored three straight to take the frame 26-24.
 
The third set saw Neumann race out early, going up 5-2 and 12-8. Widener rallied to score six of the next eight points, to tie the score at 14-14. Back-to-back-to-back kills by Cacciatore, Matchett, and Blaum gave the Blue and Gold a lead it would not relinquish as the teams traded points for the remainder of the set.
 
UP NEXT
Widener has a short turnaround before traveling to Wilkes for a Middle Atlantic Conference tri-match against the host Colonels and Misericordia on Thursday, February 20. Opening serve against Misericordia is set for 6:00 p.m. followed by the Wilkes match at 8:00 p.m.