CHESTER, PA – Host Widener University won in four sets over the Wilkes University men's volleyball team on Thursday night at the Schwartz Athletic Center to hand the Colonels their first defeat of the season. Wilkes took set one 25-23 before the Pride won the next three sets by scores of 25-22, 25-12, and 25-20.

Wilkes is now 2-1 on the season while Widener improved to 1-0 following its season opener.

In the opening set neither team led by more than three points until Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley) put away a kill to make the score 22-18 in favor of Wilkes. The Pride answered back with the next three points to force a Colonels timeout. The well-timed break forced a service error and then an attack error on Widener to make the score 24-21. After Widener scored two more points, Aidan Hunter (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) sealed the first set victory for the Colonels with a kill as Zach Shay (Bethlehem, PA/Freedom) assisted.

Things did not go the Colonels way in the second set as the Pride extended a small lead to 20-15 late in the set. Shafer answered back for Wilkes as he had three consecutive kills that were followed by an attack error on the Pride to make the score 20-19. Following a Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) kill, and a block Lucas and his brother Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) the Colonels tied the score at 22-22. Widener closed out the set though with the next three points to even the match at 1-1.

Widener took the momentum into the third set by starting with a 5-0 run. From there the Pride cruised to a 25-12 set victory to go ahead 2-1.

The Pride looked to close out the home win by taking a 14-7 lead in the fourth set but Wilkes battled back with a 5-0 run highlighted by a Paul Binner (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) ace to make it 14-12. But Widener responded back with a five-point rally to put itself in firm control at 19-12. Widener went on to close out the set at 25-19 to win the match 3-1.

Shafer led Wilkes with 16 kills in his first match of the season. He also led the team with three aces and seven digs. Shay had 24 assists on the night. Shafer, Binner, and J. Mages all had three block assists. L. Mages finished second on the team with six digs.

Matthew Christ led Widener with 14 kills and five aces. Josh Matchett led the offense with 37 assists and tied for the lead with Christian Wannamaker  and Kevin Stubbs with six digs. Ethan Cox had three block assists.

Next up for Wilkes is the home opener which comes in the form of a tri-match on Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. The Colonels host Penn State Altoona first and then play Manhattanville College at 4:00 p.m.