CHESTER, Pa. – After battling back to force a fifth set, the Widener University men's volleyball team was upended 3-2 in heartbreaking fashion by the Eastern Eagles, falling 25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 25-18, 9-15.
 
MATCH NOTES

• Josh Matchett turned in a strong overall performance for the Pride, notching his second career double-double. His totals of 33 assists, 11 digs, and six kills were all season-highs and he hit .556 for the match.
• Ethan Cox continued his impressive rookie campaign, leading the Blue and Gold with 11 kills.
• Matt Blaum came close to a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs, adding two service aces and two blocks.
• Five players for Widener had six or more kills and Widener posted a season-best .149 hitting percentage as a unit.

 
SET BY SET

• The Pride jumped out to an early lead in the first, using an 8-1 run to take a 13-7 lead. Eastern never closed the gap to less than four the remainder of the way as Widener coasted to the set win.
• The Eagles turned the tide in the second, using an early run to build a lead and didn't look back in the frame.
• A thriller of a third set followed with Widener falling behind early 6-0. Eastern maintained the lead and looked in control up 17-10 when the Blue and Gold battled back, knotting the score at 18-18. After trading the next four points, the Eagles scored five of the final six points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Undaunted, WU used an early 12-2 run in building a 14-5 lead in the fourth. Eastern closed the gap to 17-15, but the Pride never buckled, taking the stanza 25-18, winning five of the final six points.
• Despite starting the fifth set on serve, Widener went down 5-0 in the decider and was unable to climb the full mountain in the final frame.

 
UP NEXT
After a weekend off, the Pride makes the short trip to Eastern to battle the Eagles again on Wednesday, March 17. Opening serve is set for 7:30 p.m.