(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Another five-set match befell the Wilson men's volleyball team as it took on Widener in non-conference action on Tuesday evening. It was the third time in the past four matches that the Phoenix went the distance with their opponent. Unfortunately this time it didn't go in favor of the Blue and White as it fell to the Pride in a hard-fought contest with almost every set going down to the wire.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 2, Widener 3 (16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11)
Venue: Gannett Field House
Records: Wilson 6-3, 0-0 UE; Widner 5-8, 0-0 MAC
How It Happened
- Wilson had the momentum early as it opened up a 5-2 lead thanks to a stout defensive front that saw a pair of blocks thanks to Jackson Wolfe and Demetrius Simmons. A 7-1 run later put Wilson up 16-7 following a kill by Scotty Zorn. Consecutive kills by Jacob McCoy, Satvik Sharma, and Wolfe put Wilson up 22-13 shortly after and a kill from Ryan Koontz (XX) sealed the set and a 1-0 lead for the Phoenix.
- Widner was able to rebound in the second and slowly started to pull away midway through the frame. Three-straight points left the Pride with a 16-11 lead, and after Wilson scored the following two, Widener again went three-in-a-row for a 19-13 lead. Wilson climbed back into contention with a 5-1 run to make it 24-22 before Widener ended the set on a Quinby Dahl attack. The third played similarly, but a 4-0 run by Widner gave the visitors a 15-9 advantage. Each time the Phoenix tried to climb back into contention, the Pride was able to counter. Wilson did string four points together near the end before Widener took the 2-1 lead on another Dahl kill.
- A 6-0 run by Widener in the fourth set the score at 16-12, but the Phoenix were able to score nine of the next 12 to take a 21-19 lead. Koontz fueled the charge with three kills during the stretch while Adan Rodriguez-Sapien added a pair of aces. Wolfe added another kill down the stretch before a Widener error provided game point for the Phoenix.
- Widener jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the decisive fifth, but Wilson didn't go away quietly. Back-to-back Koontz kills, a Pride error, and a block by Koontz and Simmons brought the Phoenix back within one. Koontz added another kill to make it 11-10 Widner, but the Pride were able to close it out from there.
Inside The Numbers
- Wolfe and Koontz had stellar evenings on the attacking end with 19 and 18 kills, respectively. Both hit over .300 in doing so.
- Defensively Wolfe was solid all around with nine digs and three blocks.
- Camden Sterner helped on the receiving end with a match-best 16 digs.
- Sharma had his best night of the young season with a season-best 45 assists.
Up Next
The Phoenix will take on Eastern and Hood in a tri-match hosted by the Blazers in Frederick this Saturday.
