Box Score
Despite a good blocking performance, the Albright College volleyball team saw a rally fall short in a loss to Widener University, Tuesday in the Bollman Center.
The Lions nearly came all the way back from a two-set hole, ultimately dropping a 3-0 (25-22, 25-11, 23-25, 22-25, 17-15) decision.
Albright had 16 team blocks, including six total blocks each from
Kyrsten Stanford and
Brandy Blimline.
Marisa Bartone added five and
Morgan Heath totaled four.
The opening game was a blocking battle, with Blimline and Stanford each recording two solos early. Blimline recorded a solo block on the game's first point, and Stanford followed to give the Lions leads of 5-4 and 8-6.
Another solo block by Blimline tied the game at 11-all, and she teamed with Bartone for a block that squared things up at 13-13. Widener soon took a 20-17 lead on
Caitlin Horan's solo block.
Widener senior
Veronica Vizzard then combined for a block assist to make it 23-18 Widener- her 200th career block. The Lions dropped the game 25-22 despite totaling seven blocks.
Widener led 10-5 early in game two. Stanford recorded a kill, but the Lions gave it right back with a service error. The setters
Sabrini Barbieri and Heath exchanged unassisted kills, as the Pride eventually pulled away for a 25-11 scoreline.
More blocking carried the Lions to a win in game three. Bartone's solo block made it 22-20 Albright; Widener tried to rally but combined blocks from Stanford/Bartone made it 23-22 and Stanford/Heath closed it out.
Albright jumped out a massive 8-1 lead in game four and then had an 11-3 advantage following a Stanford kill, but nearly gave it away. Consecutive Widener rejections made it 14-13, and then two Pride blocks brought the visitors all the way back to 16-16.
Jordan Gibson snuck a shot into Widener's court for a 23-18 Albright lead, and Stanford/Heath's block assist made it 24-20.
With a chance to complete an improbable comeback, Albright seized a 13-12 lead on Blimline's kill. Libero
Victoria Miller had the clinching service ace however, as Widener escaped in the tiebreaker.
Albright falls to 10-14 on the season, and 2-6 in Commonwealth Conference play. The only thing separating the Lions from competing for a playoff spot this fall has been a pair of losses (to Lycoming and Widener) where not only did the match go to a fifth set, but 15 points wasn't even enough to separate the winner.
