LANCASTER, Pa. - Widener Men's Volleyball stumbles out the gate, falling to Lancaster Bible and Roanoke in the first match-ups of the season. 

The Pride fall to 0-2 on the season and remain 0-0 in conference play. 

BY THE NUMBERS: GAME ONE 

• Michael Martino led the team with 11 kills, a .269 hitting percentage, 4 digs, 1 service ace, and totaled 12.5 points. 

• Josh Matchett orchestrated the offense with 23 assists, added 4 blocks, and hit .600 on limited attempts, contributing 6.5 points. 

• Christian Wannamaker contributed 6 kills, 2 digs, and 6.0 points to the team's effort. 

• Stephen Marquis added 5 kills, 7 total points, and 2 blocks. 

BY THE NUMBERS: GAME TWO 

• Michael Martino had an outstanding match with 17 kills, a .306 hitting percentage, 7 digs, and 17.5 points. 

• Izaiah Rivera delivered a strong performance with 12 kills, 2 service aces, 5 digs, and 15 points. 

• Josh Matchett excelled as setter with 35 assists, 7 digs, 3 kills, and a .400 hitting percentage, contributing 4.0 points. 

• Stephen Marquis was a defensive force, tallying 6 total blocks and contributing 8 points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST LANCASTER BIBLE 

• Widener started the match strong, with Michael Martino and Josh Matchett contributing early kills. However, Lancaster Bible pulled away midway through the set with an 8-1 run, capitalizing on strong serving. Despite a late push with kills from Stephen Marquis and Christian Wannamaker, Widener couldn't recover, dropping the set 18-25. 

• The second set was more competitive, as Martino and Izaiah Rivera kept the offense firing. Widener held a slim lead early on but saw it slip away as Lancaster Bible strung together a 6-0 run, aided by service aces. Matchett's precise setting helped the Pride fight back to within two points, but the rally fell short, and the set ended 22-25. 

• The final set saw Lancaster Bible maintain control with consistent attacking and key defensive plays. Despite Martino and Marquis adding late kills, Lancaster's balanced offense proved too much to handle. A 5-0 run sealed the set and match for the hosts, with a 17-25 final score. 

HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST ROANOKE 

• Roanoke jumped out to an early lead, capitalizing on several Widener errors and a strong performance by Jackson Rutkowski. A 7-1 run put Roanoke firmly in control, and despite kills from Rivera and Martino, Widener dropped the set 15-25. 

• Widener bounced back in the second set, fueled by Rivera and Martino's offensive firepower. A key 6-0 run, including a block by Stephen Marquis and a service ace from Rivera, swung the momentum in the Pride's favor. Matchett's clutch setting secured a 25-22 win for Widener. 

• Momentum carried over into the third set as Widener raced to an early lead. Martino tallied several key kills, and Marquis added to the block total. Despite a late push by Roanoke, the Pride held on for another 25-22 victory. 

• Roanoke responded in the fourth set with improved consistency, taking advantage of Widener's service errors. A critical 8-2 run late in the set gave Roanoke control, as the Pride dropped the set 19-25. 

• In the deciding set, Roanoke's strong start proved too much to overcome. Despite efforts from Martino and Rivera, Roanoke surged ahead with a 5-0 run to close the match, winning the set 8-15. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride will stay on the road as they head to Madison, N.J. to face the Drew Rangers. First serve is Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7p.m.