CHESTER, Pa. - Widener rolled to a decisive straight-set win against Wilkes University. 

The Pride improve to 3-3 on the season. 

BY THE NUMBERS  

• Stephen Marquis paced Widener with nine kills. 

• Quinby Dahl followed with seven kills, added one service ace, and contributed defensively with five digs. 

• Anioma Njokanma chipped in six kills and anchored the front row with three total blocks, while Christian Wannamaker also recorded three blocks at the net to help shut down Wilkes' attack. 

• Jason Sandberg directed the Pride offense with 29 assists and led the team with eight digs, while Kevin Stubbs added two service aces. 

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• Widener and Wilkes traded points through the early stages of the opening set, with kills from Njokanma, Marquis, Wannamaker, and Josh Akinwale keeping the score even at 7–7. The Pride gained momentum midway through the frame behind strong swings from Marquis, Njokanma, and Dahl, along with a service ace from Stubbs to build a 15–11 advantage. Wilkes answered with a late push to pull even at 18–18 and briefly take the lead, but Widener responded down the stretch with timely kills from Marquis, closing the set on a decisive run, capped by consecutive Stubbs service aces to secure the 25–22 win. 

• Wilkes jumped out to an early lead in the second set, but Widener quickly settled in and responded with a kill from Dahl and a block from Wannamaker and Njokanma to even the score at 4–4. The teams continued to trade points through the middle of the frame, with Marquis, Njokanma, and Wannamaker helping the Pride stay locked in during a tight stretch that featured multiple ties. Late in the set, Widener leaned on its defense at the net and timely swings from Akinwale, Marquis, Njokanma, and Dahl to push ahead, then closed the frame with back-to-back points, including a Dahl service ace, to pull out a hard-fought 27–25 win. 

• Widener came out firing in the third set, racing to a 6–0 lead behind a Dahl kill, a Sandberg service ace, and quick offense from Matthew Randall and Njokanma. Wilkes answered with a brief run at the service line to even the score at 8–8, but the Pride regrouped and continued to trade points through the middle of the set. With the score tied at 19–19 late, Widener put together a decisive closing stretch, highlighted by an Akinwale service ace and timely kills from Wannamaker and Randall, to close out the set 25–23 and secure the straight-set victory. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride hit the road to take part in a Tri-Match in Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday, January 31. They will take on Elizabethtown College at 12 p.m. and Lancaster Bible College at 2 p.m.