St. David's, Pa. - The Pride battled through three sets on the road Friday night but fell to Eastern, 3-0.
The Pride move to 4-15 overall and 1-3 in MAC Commonwealth play.
BY THE NUMBERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Widener opened the first set with a 1-0 lead behind a Campbell Chronister service ace, and the Pride continued to trade points with Eastern through the early stages. The teams were tied at 3-3 before Widener began to build a small advantage, moving ahead 6-4 and later 10-8 behind kills from Ava Kramer and Sophia Schultz. The Pride maintained their lead and extended it to 17-12, but Eastern responded with a strong run to close the gap and eventually take a 20-19 lead. The Eagles continued to build momentum late in the set, pulling ahead 24-19. Schultz recorded a kill to bring Widener to 20, but Eastern claimed the final point to take the opening set, 25-20.
- The Pride kept the second set close, trading points with Eastern through several ties, including at 5-5, 10-10, and 14-14. An Airyn Zimmerman service ace and kills from Schultz and Kramer helped Widener stay even with the Eagles through the middle of the set. Eastern then created separation with four consecutive points to take an 18-14 lead. Widener continued to fight, with a Schultz kill and a Kennadi Guessford kill helping the Pride stay within reach. Schultz added a service ace as Widener pulled within 22-20, but Eastern answered with two more points to reach set point. Kramer recorded another kill to make it 24-21, but the Eagles closed out the set, 25-21, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
- Widener and Eastern traded points early in the third set, with the Pride tying the score at 3-3 before the Eagles moved ahead 6-3. Widener responded with a three-point run, highlighted by a Meghan Prior service ace, to even the set at 6-6. The teams continued to battle through several ties, including at 11-11 and 12-12, but Eastern gradually gained control. The Eagles moved ahead 15-12 before kills from Gabriella Bottino and a block by Sophia Schultz and Airyn Zimmerman helped the Pride stay within reach at 16-15. Eastern then took command with a six-point run to extend its lead to 22-15. Widener managed to close the gap to 23-17, but the Eagles secured the final two points to win the set, 25-17, and complete the 3-0 sweep.
UP NEXT
The Pride return home on Wednesday, October 14, to take on York University at 7 p.m. for Widener's Dig Pink match.
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