CHESTER, Pa. - The Pride battled throughout the match but fell in straight sets to the Scarlet Raiders in a home matchup. 

The Pride drop to 4-8 on the season. 

BY THE NUMBERS  

• Jarrett Edwards anchored the back row with a team-high six digs and added two assists. 

• Christian Wannamaker led the Pride with six kills, while Quinby Dahl added four and Josh Akinwale chipped in three offensively. 

• Jason Sandberg directed the attack with 14 assists and contributed two service aces, two blocks, and three digs in an all-around effort. 

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• Widener battled early in the opening set, answering a 2–0 deficit with a block from Akinwale and a service ace from Sandberg to even the score at 2–2. The Pride stayed within striking distance midway through the frame, getting kills from Wannamaker and Dahl to trim the margin to 11–8. However, Rutgers-Newark used a strong run to create separation, turning a 14–10 lead into a commanding advantage. The Scarlet Raiders closed the set on an extended surge, pulling away late to secure a 25–12 opening-set victory. 

• The second set featured a tightly contested start, with Widener matching Rutgers-Newark point-for-point through the early stages. Kills from Wannamaker, Akinwale, and Dahl helped the Pride keep pace, and a block from Matthew Randall and Akinwale evened the score at 15–15 midway through the frame. However, the Scarlet Raiders responded with a decisive run behind the serving of Michael Suarez, who delivered multiple aces to spark a surge that turned a deadlock into a commanding advantage. Rutgers-Newark controlled the closing stretch, pulling away to claim the set, 25–15, and take a 2–0 lead in the match. 

• Rutgers-Newark set the tone early in the third, using a string of service aces and capitalizing on Pride attack errors to jump out to a 9–2 advantage. Widener showed resilience midway through the frame, as a block from Dahl, Wannamaker, and Sandberg helped spark a rally, and Sandberg later added a service ace to trim the deficit to 15–9. The Pride continued to battle, pulling within 18–13 after a Wannamaker kill and a Sandberg ace, but the Scarlet Raiders answered each push to maintain control. Despite Widener cutting the margin to five late, Rutgers-Newark closed the set on a final surge to secure the 25–18 victory and complete the straight-sets sweep. 

UP NEXT 

The Pride are back on the road on Tuesday, February 17, to take on Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.