ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. - Men's Volleyball runs out of gas after a 42-40 set and fall to the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown. 
The Pride fall to 12-12 in the season and remain 0-5 in conference play. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Matthew Christ had a standout offensive performance, leading Widener with 27 kills on 52 total attacks, posting a strong .423 hitting percentage, and totaling 27.0 points. 
• Stephen Marquis added consistent production with 10 kills, contributing 11.0 total points while also notching 3 digs. 
• Josh Matchett anchored the offense with 47 assists, serving as the primary setter throughout the match. He also added 3 block assists and 6 digs to round out a complete performance. 
• Jarrett Edwards led the team in digs with 7, playing a key role in back row defense. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Widener came out strong in the opening set, trading points with Elizabethtown in a back-and-forth battle that featured 14 ties and multiple lead changes. Matthew Christ found early rhythm with several kills, while Stephen Marquis and Michael Martino chipped in from the outside. Setter Josh Matchett kept the offense balanced, distributing effectively across the court. Despite a late push that gave Widener a brief 25-24 edge, Elizabethtown closed on a 4-1 run to claim the first set, 28-26. 
• The second set saw Elizabethtown take control early with a 7-3 lead that they never relinquished. Widener struggled to find the same offensive flow, though Christ and Marquis continued to apply pressure at the net. Elizabethtown's clean execution allowed them to extend their advantage despite Widener's mid-set substitutions and defensive efforts. The set ended with a 25-19 victory for the Blue Jays. 
• Set three turned into a marathon thriller and was the highlight of the night for Widener. Christ erupted offensively, hammering down kill after kill to keep the Pride alive. With help from Matchett's steady setting and strong supporting swings by Martino and Marquis, Widener battled through 29 tie scores in the frame. The teams exchanged set points repeatedly, and big blocks from Anioma Njokanma and timely defense from Christian Wannamaker kept the set alive. In a dramatic finish, Widener finally pulled out the win, taking the third set 42-40. 
• The momentum carried briefly into the fourth set, where Widener kept pace early behind kills from Christ and Martino. However, Elizabethtown used a mid-set 5-1 run to break an 11-11 tie, building a lead they would not give up. Despite late efforts from Marquis and another offensive surge from Christ, the Pride couldn't complete the comeback, falling 25-22 in the final set. 

UP NEXT 
The Pride continue their season with a home match against the Eastern Eagles on Wednesday, March 26th. The first serve is set for 7pm.