READING, Pa. - The Pride stumble in their second game of conference play, falling in five sets to the Knights of Arcadia. 

The Pride fall to 12-6 on the season and 0-2 in conference play. 
 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Michael Martino led the team with 12 kills on 34 attempts, hitting at a .294 percentage. He also contributed 7 digs and 2 block assists, totaling 13 points. 

• Josh Matchett played a significant role in facilitating the offense with a team-high 37 assists. He also added 7 kills, 5 digs, and a block assist for a well-rounded performance. 

• Stephen Marquis was efficient at the net, tallying 7 kills on 10 attempts for an impressive .600 hitting percentage. He also made a big impact defensively with 5 block assists, contributing 9.5 total points. 

• Christian Wannamaker added 7 kills along with 7 digs and a team-high 4 block assists, showcasing his versatility. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Widener started strong, trading early points with Arcadia behind key kills from Michael Martino and Josh Matchett. The teams were tied multiple times early, but a 5-1 run by Arcadia gave them a slight edge. Widener fought back with a pair of blocks from Christian Wannamaker and Stephen Marquis, but Arcadia's serving pressure created separation late. A final 4-0 surge by Arcadia sealed the set 25-20, despite Widener's attempts to rally. 

•  The Pride bounced back in the second set, finding their rhythm offensively. Martino led the attack with several well-placed kills, while Matchett orchestrated the offense efficiently. After trailing 12-10, Widener went on a 6-1 run, fueled by two kills from Marquis and a service ace from Jason Sandberg, to take control. Arcadia clawed back to within two points late, but a clutch block by Wannamaker and a final kill from Martino secured the 25-22 set victory, tying the match at 1-1. 

•  Arcadia came out dominant in the third, using a 7-2 run to establish an early lead as Widener struggled with attack errors. Marquis and Matthew Christ tried to stabilize the offense, but Arcadia's defense forced multiple hitting mistakes. A brief Widener 3-0 run, capped by a block from Anioma Njokanma, cut the deficit to five, but Arcadia responded immediately with another 6-1 burst to pull away. The set ended 25-15, putting Arcadia back in the driver's seat.  

• Facing elimination, Widener came out aggressive, jumping to a 10-6 lead behind strong net play from Wannamaker and Marquis. Arcadia responded with a 5-1 run to tie the set at 11-11, but the Pride responded with a crucial 7-2 stretch, featuring back-to-back kills from Martino and a block by Marquis. Arcadia tried to mount a late comeback, cutting the lead to 21-18, but a kill from Matchett and a timely ace by Sandberg helped Widener close out the set 25-19, forcing a decisive fifth set. 

• The deciding frame saw both teams battle in a tense, back-and-forth exchange. Widener took an early 5-3 lead thanks to a block from Marquis and a kill from Martino, but Arcadia answered with a 4-0 run to reclaim momentum. Widener fought back to tie the set at 9-9 after an ace from Martino, but Arcadia surged ahead with another 5-1 run, capitalizing on errors and strong serving. Despite a late push, Widener fell just short as Arcadia clinched the match with a 15-11 victory. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride will take a break from conference play to face Rutgers-Newark on Friday, March 7th. First serve is at 7pm.