CHESTER, Pa. – Women's volleyball battled through a pair of four-set matches on Saturday, falling to Marywood University, 3-1, before dropping a 3-1 decision to Kean University in a tri-match at Schwartz Athletic Center.
The Pride move to 1-9 overall and remain 1-0 in MAC Commonwealth play.
BY THE NUMBERS - MARYWOOD
HOW IT HAPPENED - MARYWOOD
- Marywood opened the match with a 5-0 lead, but the Pride quickly answered with a 3-0 run to pull within two. Widener continued to battle, eventually tying the set at 13-13, but Marywood fought to make it 14-13. The teams remained within striking distance before the Pacers closed the opening set on an 9-1 run to take it, 25-18.
- The Pride responded in the second set. After an early 3-3 tie, Widener built a 9-4 advantage and continued to extend its lead. Marywood pulled within three at 9-6, but the Pride maintained control and closed out the set, 25-11, to even the match.
- Widener carried the momentum into the third set, taking an early lead and building advantages of 10-7 and 13-9. Marywood fought back to tie the set at 19-19, setting up another tight finish. The Pride remained within reach late, but Marywood put together the final push to take the set, 25-21.
- The fourth set featured another back-and-forth battle. Widener led 5-3 and then Marywood led 8-7 before the Pride evened the score at 9-9. Widener regained the lead at 11-9 and eventually tied the set at 13-13 after Marywood moved ahead. The teams continued trading points, with Widener pulling within 20-19 and later 23-22, but Marywood scored the final two points to secure the 25-22 victory and take the match, 3-1.
BY THE NUMBERS - KEAN
HOW IT HAPPENED - KEAN
- Kean opened the first set with an early advantage before Widener began chipping away. The Pride pulled within 11-9 and later 13-12 before scoring four straight points to take a 16-15 lead. Kean answered with a four-point run and held off another Widener push late, taking the opening set, 25-20.
- Kean again established an early lead in the second set, going ahead 13-6. The Pride battled back, cutting the deficit to 14-9 before putting together four straight points to pull within 15-14. Kean regained some separation, but Widener refused to go away. The Pride scored four consecutive points late, cutting a 23-15 deficit to 23-19, before Kean closed out the set, 25-21.
- Widener came out strong in the third set. After falling behind 8-4, the Pride steadily worked their way back and took their first lead at 10-9. The teams traded points through a 13-13 tie before Widener created separation with a three-point run to take a 16-13 lead. The Pride continued to build on the advantage late in the set, using back-to-back aces from Campbell Chronister to push the lead to 23-17. Widener reached set point at 24-17 before Gabriella Bottino finished the set with a kill from Chronister, giving the Pride a 25-18 win and forcing a fourth set.
- Kean took control early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Widener answered by scoring four of the next five points to pull within 7-6, but Kean then used a six-point run to create separation at 13-6. The Pride continued to battle, but Kean maintained its advantage throughout the remainder of the set. Widener pulled within 23-11 late, but Kean closed the set, 25-13, to take the match, 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Pride return to action on Wednesday, September 23, at home as they take on Hood. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
