CHESTER, Pa. – The Albright women's volleyball team was defeated in straight sets by Widener in MAC Commonwealth play on Wednesday night. The Pride won the sets 25-9, 25-9, and 25-19.
With the loss, the Lions see their two-game winning streak snapped as they drop to 5-4 overall and 0-3 in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile the Pride improves to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
Sophomore
Kaitlyn Chell led the Lions with a team-high four kills and added six digs along with two service aces. Classmate
Brooke Franklin followed with three kills and
Damaris Gomez led the Lions with seven digs. Sophomore led the Lions offense with nine assists and added six digs.
The Lions scored the first point of the first set and trailed by one at 3-2 before the Pride ran off four straight points to take a 7-2 lead. Albright then countered with five of the next six points to pull up at 8-7, but the Pride then pulled away to win the first set by taking 17 of the last 19 points. Widener at one point won 10 straight points behind eight kills and two service aces. Albright would hang tough to start again in the second set as they trailed just 5-3 early on. Once again the Pride went on another big run as they won 11 of the next 12 points to go up 17-4. The Lions ended the run with a kill from Franklin and closed in by as much as 10 at 18-8. Widener finished the set by winning seven of the last eight points.
Each team traded points to start the third set as the score was tied at four early on. Widener then went on a run by winning eight of the next nine points to go up 12-5. Albright won three straight points to cut the lead down to 12-8 before the Pride shut the run down with four straight points of their own to make it 16-8. Following a timeout, it was the Lions turn for an extended run as they won six of the next seven points to make it a 17-14 game. Unfortunately for the Lions, Widener put the game away by winning five of the next six points to go up 22-15. Albright would get within five at 23-18 before the Pride closed the set and game out.
The Pride posted a solid .349 hitting percentage for the game and held the Lions to just -.103 overall. Widener also held an 11-4 advantage in service aces as well.
Albright will return to action tomorrow, September 20
th when they will host Marywood in non-conference action at 7 p.m.