Widener University Athletics

CHESTER, Pa. – Women's Volleyball earned its first win of the 2026 season on Tuesday night, defeating Albright College, 3-1, in MAC Commonwealth play.

The Pride improve to 1-6 overall and 1-0 in MAC Commonwealth play.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophia Schultz led the Pride with 13 kills, while Airyn Zimmerman added eight and Kennadi Strassmann finished with seven.
• Schultz recorded four service aces, while Zimmerman and Rachel Towers each added two.
• Rachel Towers, Isabella Reilly and Schultz each finished with nine digs.
• Schultz led Widener with 18.0 points.
• Mary Carter led the Pride with four assists, while Reilly and Towers added two apiece.
• Zimmerman, Strassmann and Schultz each recorded one block.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening set featured an early back-and-forth battle before the Pride began to pull away. After Albright took a 6-5 lead, Widener responded with a stretch that included kills from Schultz, Ava Kramer, and Strassmann to take a 13-10 advantage. The Pride continued to build its lead, moving ahead 16-12 before closing the set on a 9-6 run. Widener reached set point at 24-17 before an Albright attack error gave the Pride the 25-18 win.
• The second set remained close from start to finish, with neither team able to create much separation. The teams were tied at 10-10 before continuing to trade points throughout the middle portion of the set. Albright took a 15-13 lead, but Widener answered to even the score at 16-16. The teams remained tied at 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 before the Pride moved ahead 22-20. Albright fought back to tie the set at 22-22, and the teams traded points to reach 24-24. After the Lions took a 25-24 lead, Widener responded with three straight points, including kills from Schultz and Gabriella Bottino, before a block from Zimmerman and Bottino secured the 27-25 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
• Albright came out strong in the third set, building an early 7-2 lead. The Pride battled back, cutting the deficit to 14-9 before the Lions answered with a run of their own. Widener remained within striking distance at 18-13, but Albright scored five straight points to take a 23-13 lead. The Lions closed out the set, 25-14, to cut the Pride's match lead to 2-1.
• The Pride wasted no time establishing control in the fourth set, opening with five straight points. Widener continued to extend its advantage, taking a 9-1 lead and later moving ahead 12-2. Albright cut the deficit to 12-4, but the Pride responded with two straight points to regain momentum. After the Lions pulled within 15-9, Widener continued to build its lead, reaching 20-14. Schultz then delivered back-to-back service aces to put the Pride ahead 22-14. Zimmerman followed with a kill and later closed out the set with a service ace, giving Widener the 25-15 win and the 3-1 match victory.

UP NEXT
The Pride remain at home on Thursday, September 17, as they take on Muhlenberg at 7 p.m.