READING, Pa. - Women's Volleyball battled through five sets on the road Wednesday night, but Alvernia held on for a 3-2 victory.
The Pride move to 4-14 on the season and 1-2 in conference play.Â
BY THE NUMBERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alvernia opened the first set with a 4-2 lead and later extended its advantage to 8-5, but Widener steadily worked its way back. The Pride used a pair of Airyn Zimmerman aces to help even the set at 10-10 before the teams continued to trade points. Alvernia briefly moved ahead 12-11, but Widener answered with a Strassmann kill, a Carter ace, and a Bottino kill to take a 14-12 lead. The Golden Wolves responded to tie the set at 15-15, but the Pride then took control with six straight points to move ahead 21-15, highlighted by multiple kills. Alvernia trimmed the deficit to 21-16, but Widener reached set point at 24-17 and closed out the opening frame, 25-19.
- Widener bounced back from the opening set by taking control early in the second. After Alvernia opened with a 1-0 lead, the Pride answered with three straight points to move ahead 5-2 and continued to build its advantage, pushing ahead 10-6 and then 13-7 behind kills from Ava Kramer, Airyn Zimmerman, and Kennadi Strassmann. Widener maintained its momentum to take a 17-9 lead before Alvernia began to chip away, scoring four straight points to cut the deficit to 17-13. The Golden Wolves later pulled within 20-18, but the Pride responded with three straight points to move ahead 23-18. Alvernia made one final push to cut it to 23-21, but Widener closed the set with the final two points to take the second, 25-21, to go up 2-0.
- Widener opened the third set with a quick 2-0 lead behind a Kennadi Strassmann kill and a Mary Carter ace, but Alvernia answered to go up in the set 3-2. The teams continued to trade points, with Widener holding a 5-4 advantage before Alvernia moved in front 10-9. The Pride stayed within striking distance and eventually tied the set at 10-10 before the Golden Wolves regained a narrow 11-10 lead. They then created separation with a five-point run, going into a 15-11 advantage. Widener responded with two straight points to cut the deficit to 15-13, but Alvernia answered to go ahead 18-14. The Pride continued to battle, pulling within 19-16 and later 21-19, but the Golden Wolves scored four of the final five points to close out the set, 25-19, and take one set in the match.
- Alvernia jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the fourth set, but Widener quickly answered and began chipping away at the deficit. The Golden Wolves pushed their advantage to 9-3, but the Pride continued to battle and eventually pulled within 10-6 before cutting the deficit to 12-9. Widener continued its comeback, closing the gap to 14-13Â before tying the set at 15-15 and taking its first lead of the frame at 17-15. Alvernia answered to tie the set at 17-17, but the Pride stayed even at 18-18 before the Golden Wolves scored six straight points to take a 23-18 lead. Widener fought back to make it 24-21, but Alvernia closed out the set, 25-21, forcing a deciding fifth set.
- The deciding set opened with Widener taking a 1-0 lead, but Alvernia quickly answered and moved ahead 5-2. The Pride responded with five straight points to go up in the set 7-5. Alvernia fought back to tie the set at 7-7, but Widener created separation with three straight points to take a 10-7 lead. The Golden Wolves continued to fight, tying the set at 10-10. The teams traded points from there, with Alvernia holding a 12-11 edge before extending its lead to 14-12. Widener answered with a point to pull within 14-13, but Alvernia scored the final point to take the fifth set, 15-13, and the match, 3-2.
UP NEXT
The Pride head to St. Davids, Pa., on Friday, October 9, to take on Eastern University in a matchup that was originally scheduled for September 29. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
