CHESTER, Pa. – The Arcadia University men's volleyball team earned a conference victory on the road Wednesday evening, sweeping Widener University in straight sets. The Knights (8-9, 2-1 MAC) defeated the Pride by scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-17.
Josh Clendening led the offensive effort with 13 kills and three service aces. Reece Dodd anchored the defense at the net with five blocks, while Riley Kodidek dished out 29 assists. Aidan Mackowiak paced the back row with 14 digs. As a team, Arcadia hit .325 for the match while holding Widener to a .141 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Arcadia 25 – Widener 20
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After falling behind 1-0 early in the opening set, Arcadia responded with a 10-1 run. The surge included kills from Clendening and Dodd, three block assists from Tucker Curtis and Dodd, a kill from Kodidek, and two service aces from Clendening.
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Dodd, Clendening, Luka Erickson, and Cameron Birch continued the momentum with additional kills to extend the lead to 14-6.
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The Knights capitalized on Widener errors before Birch added another kill to push the advantage to 19-13.
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Arcadia followed with a 3-0 run capped by a Clendening kill, though Widener answered with three straight points of its own.
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Erickson recorded another kill late in the set before Dodd finished the frame with the final point to secure the 25-20 win.
SET TWO: Arcadia 25 – Widener 18
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The second set began with back-to-back Widener attack errors, followed by consecutive kills from Erickson and Clendening to give Arcadia a 4-2 lead.
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The Knights then went on a 7-2 run, fueled by kills from Clendening, Curtis, Birch, and Erickson, extending the lead to 14-8 and forcing a Widener timeout.
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Clendening added another kill, and Dodd and Birch combined for additional points to make it 17-10.
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Widener rallied to trim the deficit to 21-18, but Arcadia closed the set on a decisive 4-0 run. A Widener service error, a block assist from Dodd and Kodidek, a Clendening ace, and a Dodd kill sealed the 25-18 set victory.
SET THREE: Arcadia 25 – Widener 17
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Arcadia jumped out to an early lead in the third set and followed with a 5-2 run highlighted by a block from Dodd and kills from Kodidek and Curtis.
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Dodd and Birch each added kills before the Knights surged again with a 5-1 run that included Widener errors, a Birch ace, and a Clendening kill.
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Curtis tallied two more kills, while Birch added another to extend the lead to 16-12.
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Arcadia finished the match with a 7-1 run, highlighted by kills from Birch, Clendening, and Erickson, to complete the sweep with a 25-17 win.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Josh Clendening (13), Cameron Birch (7), Reece Dodd (6)
Aces: Clendening (3), Cameron Birch (1), Riley Kodidek (1)
Blocks: Dodd (5), Tucker Curtis (3), Kodidek (1)
Assists: Kodidek (29), Birch (3), Curtis (2)
Digs: Aidan Mackowiak (14), Birch (9), Curtis (4)
UP NEXT
The Knights return home Saturday to continue conference play when Eastern visits Glenside for a noon match.
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