Widener University Athletics

ASTON, Pa. - The Widener University Women's Volleyball team opened the Knights Invitational with a three-set loss to Rowan University on Friday afternoon.

The Pride move to 0-4 overall this season. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Campbell Chronister led Widener with two service aces, while Meghan Prior and Ava Kramer each added one.
• Prior recorded a team-high 11 digs, while Chronister added six and Kramer finished with four.
• Chronister finished with 18 assists, while Prior and Rachel Towers each added four.
• Airyn Zimmerman led the Pride with two blocks, while Kramer and Kayla Sicher each recorded one.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rowan opened the first set with a 2-0 lead before Widener answered with a four-point run to take a 4-2 advantage. The Pride continued to build its lead, reaching 5-2 before Rowan cut into the deficit. Widener maintained control through the middle of the set, with a Prior service ace and kills from Sophia Schultz, Zimmerman, and Sicher helping the Pride push ahead 16-8. Rowan responded with a run of its own, using a series of kills to try to erase the eight-point deficit and eventually coming back within two at 17-15. Widener to make it 19-15, but Rowan went on a run again, going up 20-19 before the Pride tied the set at 20-20. The teams traded points down the stretch, reaching 24-24, but Rowan scored the final two points to take the opening set 26-24,
• The Pride again started strong in the second set, opening with back-to-back Chronister service aces to take a 2-0 lead. The teams remained close through 6-6 before Rowan began to pull ahead, eventually building a 12-7 advantage. Widener continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 14-13 after a Kramer ace and a Rowan attack error. Rowan answered with another run to extend its lead, but the Pride made one more push late, pulling within 19-17. The Profs closed out the set by scoring six of the final eight points to take it 25-19.
• Rowan opened the third set with a 3-0 lead before Widener answered with a kill from Gabriella Bottino. The Profs extended their advantage to 6-1, but the Pride continued to battle with kills from Bottino and Schultz to pull within 7-3. Rowan pushed ahead again, but Widener stayed within striking distance at 12-7 after a Kennadi Strassmann kill. Bottino added another kill to make it 13-8 before Rowan began to pull away. The Profs extended their lead to 17-10 and then closed the set on an 8-0 run, including back-to-back service aces from Abigail Chadwick, to take the third set 25-10 and complete the three-set victory.

UP NEXT
Widener remains in Aston, Pa., for the remainder of the Knights Invitational, facing DeSales at 12 p.m. before taking on Arcadia at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 12.