WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's volleyball team hosted the Widener Pride at the Marts Center for a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) doubleheader match Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Colonels (0-9) fell to the Pride (4-9) in straight sets in the first match 13-25, 16-25, 15-25, before falling just short in a 13-25, 25-22, 28-26, 18-25, 12-15 marathon second match.
 
The Navy and Gold didn't find any footing in the first set, but hung tough early in the second as they sat at 12 all with the Pride.  The Pride went on a 13-4 run to decisively take the set, before leading the entire way after the early going to sweep the first match.
 
The Colonels woes continued in the first set of the second match, only holding an early 6-4 lead before a 10-1 run effectively clinched the set for the Pride. The Colonels trailed early in the second set, before a 12-5 run gave them a 16-11 lead in the middle of the set, a lead the Pride would not overcome as the Colonels took their first set of the afternoon.  The Colonels built a 14-9 lead in the third set before the Pride erased it with a 6-1 run.  The Colonels hung tough and answered with a 4-1 run to take a 20-18 lead late.  The teams battled back and forth into the extra points, before a 4-1 run for the Navy and Gold gave them a set-clinching advantage.
 
The Colonels started the fourth set with a 10-7 lead, but a 6-0 run unanswered by the Pride gave Widener the edge in the set.  The Colonels would never hold the lead in the set again, and a 6-1 Pride run forced a fifth set.  A 5-1 run gave the Colonels a 5-4 lead early in the second set.  They held a 10-7 lead late in the short set, before Widener clinched the set and match with an 8-2 run.
 
In the first match, junior middle hitter Ethan Speicher (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) recorded eight kills to lead the Colonels.  In the second match, junior opposite hitter Everett Fritz (Ringtown, PA/Hazleton Area) tied his career high with nine kills.  Sophomore outside hitter Zach Evans (Nescopeck, PA/Berwick) recorded a season-high 17 kills in the second match as well as 10 digs for a double-double, first of his season and second for his career.  Sophomore setter Zach Shay (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) had a career-high seven kills and a season-high 46 assists.  First year middle hitter Paul Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) had a career-high nine kills.
 
The Colonels recorded more kills (54-53), assists (54-43), and digs (67-66) in the second match compared to the Pride.
 
The Colonels continue their season-ending stretch of matches with a trip to Glenside, Pa. to face Arcadia in another MAC showdown.  The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. Monday.