ASTON, Pa. - Women's Volleyball wrapped up play at the Knights Invitational, dropping a pair of matches to DeSales University and Arcadia University at Neumann University.
The Pride drop to 0-6 on the season.
BY THE NUMBERS - DESALES
HOW IT HAPPENED - DESALES
- Widener took an early 5-3 lead, with Bottino and Schultz contributing kills before a service ace from Towers extended the advantage. DeSales answered with a four-point run to take a 7-5 lead, but the Pride stayed within reach throughout the set. After trailing 16-12, Widener responded with a five-point run behind kills from Schultz, Bottino and Zimmerman, along with another ace from Towers, to take a 17-16 lead. The teams traded points again before DeSales pulled away late, scoring nine of the final 11 points to take the opening set 25-19.
- The Pride and Bulldogs traded points early before DeSales built a 7-3 advantage. Widener continued to battle and cut the deficit to 12-9 after a service ace from Zimmerman and a Kramer kill. DeSales pushed its lead to 17-11, but the Pride refused to go away, using kills from Schultz and Kennadi Strassman to pull within 21-16. Widener then made one final push, scoring five straight points to cut the deficit to 24-21, with Schwab delivering back-to-back service aces, but DeSales closed out the set 25-21.
- Widener opened the final set with a 1-0 lead after a Chronister service ace, but DeSales quickly took control with a six-point run to move ahead 6-1. The Pride continued to fight, with kills from Bottino and Schultz helping Widener stay within striking distance. Trailing 18-8, Widener put together a stretch, scoring three straight points on a Chronister ace and kills from Bottino and Isabella Reilly to cut the deficit to 18-11. DeSales answered with a run of its own and extended its lead to 24-16 before closing the set 25-17 to complete the three-set sweep.
BY THE NUMBERS - ARCADIA
HOW IT HAPPENED - ARCADIA
- Widener came out strong, jumping to a 4-0 lead behind two early Chronister service aces. Arcadia responded and eventually tied the set at 13-13, but the Pride regained the advantage and moved ahead 20-17 after back-to-back service aces from Towers. Arcadia answered with a run to take a 24-22 lead, but Widener battled back to tie the set at 24-24. The teams traded points again before Arcadia closed out the extra-point battle 27-25.
- The Pride opened the second set with a 3-0 lead and continued to battle through a back-and-forth start. With the score tied 8-8, Widener began to pull away, using service aces from Zimmerman and Chronister to take a 12-9 advantage. Towers added another ace before Bottino delivered three consecutive kills to help the Pride extend their lead to 20-11. Widener maintained control from there, closing out the set 25-15 to even the match at 1-1.
- The teams traded points throughout the early stages of the third set, with Widener taking a 13-12 lead. Arcadia then flipped the momentum with a six-point run to move ahead 18-13. The Pride continued to fight and cut the deficit to 18-15, but Arcadia regained control and pushed its advantage to 24-18 before closing the set 25-19.
- Widener took an early 2-1 lead, but Arcadia responded with five straight points, including three service aces from Avery Bell, to move ahead 6-2. The Pride continued to battle, scoring four straight points to pull within 12-11, highlighted by a Kennadi Strassmann kill and a Gabriella Bottino kill. Arcadia answered with five consecutive points to extend its lead to 17-11. Widener chipped away again with a Sophia Schultz kill and a block from Schultz and Airyn Zimmerman, but Arcadia reached 23-14 before the Pride made one final push. Back-to-back kills from Kramer and a Zimmerman kill helped Widener pull within 23-17, but Arcadia closed the set with two straight kills to win 25-17 and take the match 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Pride return home on Tuesday, Sept. 15, as they take on Albright University at 7 p.m.
