CHESTER, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's volleyball team dropped a thrilling five-set battle to Widener University on Friday evening on the road. The Pride (11-9, 3-0 MAC Commonwealth) edged the Knights (10-9, 1-2 MAC Freedom) by set scores of 23-25, 25-17, 25-27, 25-22, and 15-10. In the match, junior Chana Rothschild recorded her 500th career kill, finishing with a team-high 16 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One: Arcadia 23 – Widener 25
• Arcadia jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before Widener responded with back-to-back kills. Rothschild's first kill of the night tied the set at 2-2.
• After a kill from Nina Corazo and an ace from Rothschild, the set was even at 5-5.
• The Knights began to pull away midway through the set, going on a 4-0 run behind kills from Rothschild and Corazo to lead 15-13.
• Devon Young's kill gave Arcadia a 20-17 advantage, but Widener answered with a 4-0 run to retake the lead, 21-20.
• Despite late kills from Corazo and Young, the Pride capitalized on a service error to close out the first set, 25-23.
Set Two: Arcadia 25 – Widener 17
• Widener took an early 2-0 lead before Rothschild and Julia Archelle helped Arcadia tie the set at 4-4.
• After falling behind 10-7, the Knights erupted on a 15-0 run to seize a 22-10 lead, fueled by blocks from Rothschild, Anna Keer, and Young, as well as an ace from Bryana Saenz.
• The Pride briefly cut into the deficit with a short run, but back-to-back kills from Rothschild and a finishing strike from Corazo sealed the 25-17 win, tying the match at one set apiece.
Set Three: Arcadia 25 – Widener 27
• Arcadia opened the third set on fire with a 5-0 run that included three kills and two Widener errors.
• The Knights extended their lead to 10-5 after consecutive kills from Archelle, but the Pride chipped away, eventually pulling within two at 17-15.
• The teams traded points until Widener took its first lead at 19-18.
• Arcadia fought off set point to tie the frame at 24, but Widener closed strong to win 27-25 and go ahead 2-1 in the match.
Set Four: Arcadia 25 – Widener 22
• The Knights once again started strong, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before the Pride answered with three straight points.
• Three consecutive Widener errors extended Arcadia's advantage to 7-3, and a 4-0 run later in the set pushed the lead to 12-5.
• Kills from Saenz, Kylie Strange, and Corazo helped the Knights control play, building a 19-12 lead.
• After leading 22-13, Arcadia weathered a 9-0 Widener rally to tie the set at 22 before finishing with a kill from Corazo and two Pride miscues to claim the 25-22 win and force a deciding fifth set.
Set Five: Arcadia 10 – Widener 15
• Widener raced out to a 4-1 lead before Arcadia battled back with kills from Rothschild, Corazo, and Archelle to make it 6-5.
• The Pride responded with a 4-0 run to go up 9-5. Arcadia fought within three, 12-9, following a Saenz kill and a pair of Widener errors, but could not complete the comeback as the Pride secured the set 15-10 and the match, 3-2.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Rothschild (16), Corazo (13), Young (11)
Aces: Rothschild (4), Warner (2), Saenz (2)
Blocks: Rothschild (6), Corazo (3), Young (1)
Assists: Saenz (33), Warner (7), Sanchez (2)
Digs: Sanchez (19), Archelle (18), Young (10)
UP NEXT
The Knights return home on Tuesday to continue MAC Freedom play with a match against Delaware Valley University. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Alumni Gymnasium.
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