GRANTHAM, Pa. - Widener Men's Volleyball falls in tough matchup against a MAC opponent and receiving votes team in the Messiah Falcons. 

The Pride drop to 8-11 on the season and 1-5 in conference play. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Matthew Christ again would have a good day hitting. He'd finish with a team-best 10 kills and four block assists. 

• Josh Matchett again would put on a passing show, totaling 21 assists, two kills, a solo block, and two block assists. 

• Stephen Marquis would have a strong performance, ending with four kills and four block assists. 

• As a team, the Pride blocked Messiah eight times to the Falcon's four. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Both teams traded three point runs to start the first set as the game tied at 10 early. The teams would continue to trade points as the lead would stay within two, until a 5-1 Falcons run late in the set would put the Pride down 17-22. The Pride would fight to make it close, but a Widener error would sink them 20-25. 

• The second set would start well for Widener as Michael Martino's two kills would help put the Pride ahead 5-3. The Falcons would respond with a 6-1 run to take the lead, but a 3-0 Pride run would tie the game at 9. Messiah would blow the lead wide open with a 10-1 run and put the Pride down 11-20. Despite a 3-0 Pride run led by Nick Poulson's hitting to close the gap, a Widener error would see them again fall 19-25. 

• The two teams would again trade three point runs early as the Pride would hold a 6-4 lead in the third set. The teams would trade kills until an 8-1 Messiah run would put the Pride in a hole at 12-18. Matthew Christ's kill would highlight a 3-0 Pride run to cut the lead to 15-18, but four straight Falcon points would end the set and match as the Pride would take the 19-25 loss. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride remain on the road as they travel to St. Davids, Pa to face another MAC rival in the Eastern University Eagles. First serve is Wednesday, March 27 at 7pm.