CHESTER, Pa. - Widener Men's Volleyball sweeps Carin and allows depth to get action as they defend home court. 

The Pride improve to 3-2 in the early season following the 3-0 win over the Highlanders. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• First years Yavan Patel and Izaiah Rivera would get their first career kills in this match, while Kian Stevens got his first kill of the season. Patel would have three kills, Rivera with five, and Stevens with two. 

• Josh Matchett again with a stellar passing performance, this time totaling 25 assists. He also had five aces, an assisted block, and a kill. 

• Michael Martino has now led the team in kills for three straight games. He had seven in this one due to being subbed out early, also adding two assists. 

• Matthew Christ had a very solid performance in his limited action. He finished with five kills on six attacks, with four aces and a block assist. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• The Pride came out hot in the first set, going on a 6-0 run that would set the tone for the match. Matthew Christ and Christian Wannamaker would make many great plays, getting kills on good reads and blocks to stun the Highlanders. Michael Martino would get in on the action too, getting big hits from Josh Matchett's clean serving. Cairn would cut the lead down to 11-7, but a 5-2 run by the Pride would seal the set as Widener would get a 25-13 win on a Christ kill. 

• Widener would let more of their depth play in the second set, and they didn't disappoint. They would go up 4-1 early on good blocks by Kian Stevens and Christian Wannamaker. Cairn would bring the game back to 5-5, but a Matthew Christ ace would spark a 4-1 run. The Pride would continue to maintain a four-point lead, but a 5-1 would put the Pride up 21-13. A Highlander attack error would finish the set as the Pride would take it 25-15. 

• The third set would start similarly to the first two, as the Pride would go up 6-2 early. Matchett would start the game with an ace and assist to Ethan Cox, and first year Yavan Patel would get the first kill of his young career. Soon after, first year Izaiah Rivera would also get his first career kill. Matchett was on fire this set, giving out four great assists early and even getting a kill from the setter position. The first years and other depth showed out, getting great hits and seemingly blocking every attempt the Highlanders had to get the ball over the net. The Highlanders would go on a 7-3 run however, storming back to tie the game at 23. Stevens would get a kill, but Cairn would respond, tying again at 24. A Cox kill and Matchett ace would finish the set and match 26-24. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride will go on the road to face the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College. That game will be played Thursday, February 8th at 8pm.