CHESTER, Pa. - Widener Women's Volleyball earns back-to-back sweeps over Neumann and RIT.
The Pride improves to 4-9 on the season and remain 0-0 in conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS – NEUMANN (PA)
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST - NEUMANN (PA)
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The Pride stormed out to a 9–0 run, fueled by two aces and a kill from Bottino, plus kills from Airyn Zimmerman and Ava Kramer. The Pride extended the lead to 19–7 with contributions from Kristen Vacca (two kills), Chronister, Kramer, and Bottino. The Knights closed the gap to 12, but the Pride closed it out as Zimmerman put down the final kill from Chronister for the 25–12 win.
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Widener and Neumann traded points early, but a 4–0 run capped by an ace from Meghan Prior pushed the Pride ahead 8–4. Kills from Kramer, Azira Benjamin (two), and Bottino extended the lead to 17–13 before the Pride broke it open behind Vacca and Kramer to reach 21–16. The Knights closed within five, but a Neumann error sealed it as the Pride claimed the set 25–19.
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The Knights jumped out to a 6–2 lead, but the Pride quickly answered behind a stretch of four kills (Kramer three and Mira Canali) to even it at 7–7. A pair of kills from Bottino and a kill from Zimmerman pushed the Pride ahead 15–10. The Knights fought back with four straight points to close within 15–14, but Widener responded with a 9–2 run fueled by Benjamin, Bottino (service ace), Kramer, and Chronister to reach set point at 24–16. A Canali kill sealed the frame 25–17 and the sweep.
BY THE NUMBERS – RIT (NY)
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST – RIT (NY)
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The Pride opened the first set against RIT, trading early points before taking momentum behind kills from Kramer, Gabriella Bottino, Kristen Vacca, and a service ace from Barnes. The Pride strung together a 6–2 run midway through the set, highlighted by kills from Airyn Zimmerman, Azira Benjamin, and a service from Zimmerman to pull ahead 16–10. Bottino and Vacca then fueled the offense late each with a series of kills that stretched the lead to 23–14. Despite a brief push from the Tigers, the Pride capitalized on an RIT service error to secure the opening set, 25–17.
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Widener carried its momentum into the second set, racing out to a 4–0 lead behind back-to-back kills from Kramer and Bottino, capped by a service ace from Bottino. The Pride's depth showed throughout the frame, with Kramer, Vacca, Benjamin, and Bottino all contributing kills. Barnes and Chronister each delivered timely service aces as the Pride steadily built a double-digit cushion. Kramer continued to power the offense, while late points from Benjamin and Mira Canali sealed the set. The Pride closed it out convincingly, 25–11, to take a 2–0 match lead.
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The Pride showed no signs of slowing down in the third set, jumping ahead early thanks to strong serving from Bottino, who delivered two aces during a 6–1 run. Mary Carter added energy with an ace, and later, Bottino dropped in two kills to extend the Pride's cushion. With momentum fully in their favor, Chronister sealed the match in emphatic fashion, delivering back-to-back service aces to close out the set 25–15 and complete the sweep.
UP NEXT
The Pride return home on Wednesday, September 24, as they take on Eastern. Game time is set for 7 p.m.