SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Pride battled Swarthmore and Salisbury on Saturday at the Swarthmore Invitational, ultimately falling to both.
The Pride move to 1-13 overall and remain 1-1 in conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS - SWARTHMORE
HOW IT HAPPENED - SWARTHMORE
- The Pride came out strong in the opening set, jumping out to an early 6-3 lead behind kills from Bottino and a service ace from Schwab. Swarthmore responded with a run of its own, taking an 8-7 lead before Widener battled back to tie the set at 8-8. The Garnet then began to create separation, building a 14-9 advantage before the Pride answered with consecutive points to cut the deficit to 14-11. Swarthmore continued to control the set from there, extending its lead to 21-11 before closing out the opening frame, 25-13.
- Swarthmore gained the early advantage in the second set, building a 9-3 lead before the Pride began to chip away. A service ace from Schultz and a kill from Chronister helped Widener pull within three at 9-6, but the Garnet responded to push its advantage back to 13-6. The Pride continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 14-9 before Swarthmore stretched its lead to 15-9. Widener answered with three straight points to make it 15-12, then later pulled within three again at 18-15 following another three-point stretch. Swarthmore, however, closed the set with seven of the final eight points to take the second frame, 25-16.
- Widener responded with its strongest set of the match, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to take a 5-4 lead. The Pride then found another gear, scoring seven of the next eight points to build a 12-6 advantage. Bottino, Airyn Zimmerman and Kennadi Strassman all contributed kills during the stretch, while Strassman and Chronister combined for a block. Swarthmore fought back to make it 13-9, but the Pride continued to hold the advantage and led 19-13 before the Garnet mounted another push. Swarthmore eventually cut the deficit to 20-19, but Widener answered with four of the next five points to reach set point at 24-20. After the Garnet pulled within three, Bottino finished the frame with a kill to give the Pride a 25-21 victory and force a fourth set.
- The Pride carried that momentum into the fourth set, opening with a 2-0 lead and eventually building a 6-2 advantage. Swarthmore quickly answered, however, scoring five straight points to take a 7-6 lead before Widener tied the set at 7-7. From there, the Garnet took control, scoring nine consecutive points to turn a one-point set into a 16-7 advantage. Swarthmore continued to extend its lead to 17-8 before Widener began to fight back. The Pride scored three of the next four points and later added three more to cut the deficit to 23-13, but the early Swarthmore run proved too much to overcome. The Garnet closed out the fourth set, 25-13, to take the match, 3-1.
BY THE NUMBERS - SALISBURY
HOW IT HAPPENED - SALISBURY
- The Pride came out strong in the opening set, jumping out to a 3-0 lead before Salisbury answered with a point. Widener quickly responded with two straight points to take a 5-1 advantage, setting the tone early. Salisbury worked its way back into the set, eventually pulling within 10-7 before the Pride continued to hold its ground. Widener maintained its lead through the middle portion of the set, holding a 15-12 advantage before Salisbury began to chip away. The Sea Gulls eventually tied the set at 18-18, but the Pride answered with a point to regain the lead. After Salisbury evened the score again at 19-19, an Airyn Zimmerman service ace put Widener back in front, 20-19. The teams continued to trade points late, with Widener coming within one 23-22 , but Salisbury scored the final three points to take the opening set, 25-22.
- The Pride opened the second set with a 2-0 lead before Salisbury answered to make it 2-1. Widener responded with a point to move ahead 3-1, and the teams continued to trade points early. Salisbury eventually tied the set at 6-6, but the Pride answered with three straight points to take a 9-6 lead. Salisbury trimmed the deficit to 9-7, but Widener continued to battle and held its advantage through the next stretch of the set. Salisbury eventually pulled even at 16-16, but the Pride regained the lead at 17-16. The Sea Gulls answered again, tying it at 17-17, before Widener fought back to 19-17. Salisbury then moved ahead 21-19, but the Pride responded with two straight points to tie the set at 21-21. The teams remained locked at 22-22 before Salisbury scored the final three points to take the set, 25-22.
- Salisbury took an early 2-0 lead in the third set before the Pride answered with a point to make it 2-1. The Sea Gulls pushed ahead again, but Widener quickly battled back to tie the set at 3-3 and then took a 4-3 lead. Salisbury responded with a strong stretch, building an 8-4 advantage before the Pride cut the deficit to 8-6. The Sea Gulls continued to build their lead, moving ahead 12-6 before Widener answered to make it 12-7. Salisbury extended its advantage to 15-8, but the Pride continued to fight, eventually cutting the deficit to 19-10. Widener kept battling late, with a Zimmerman kill and Schultz kill helping the Pride pull within 21-15. Salisbury then scored the final four points to close out the set, 25-15, and complete the 3-0 sweep.
UP NEXT
The Pride return to action on Tuesday, September 29, traveling to St. Davids, Pa., to take on Eastern.
