CHESTER, Pa. - The Bryn Mawr volleyball squad took a thrilling 26-24 win in the first set of tonight's match at Widener, but the Pride rebounded to win the next three sets to hand the Owls their second 3-1 loss in as many matches. Noemi Moreno led the squad with nine kills, while Alexandra Nagelski posted 19 digs in another fine defensive effort. Widener got an impressive 24 kills from match leader Nicole Dorman.

Bryn Mawr (3-6) got off to a strong start in the opening set of tonight's match, with a Pride attack error and kills from Megan Kilmer and Sarah Gates helping to vault the Owls ahead 3-0. Widener (5-5) did a great job of bouncing back from the rough start, however, eventually jumping ahead by a 15-11 score themselves. Then, it was Bryn Mawr's turn to respond. On Gates' serve, the hosts made three straight attack errors, and then a kill by Rachel Ofili on a fine assist by Zoe Holman tied things back up at 15-all. Widener went on an 8-4 run to retake the advantage, but a crucial timeout by Owls head coach Nicole Reiley helped turn things around once more for Bryn Mawr. The Owls showed their resilience by closing out the set on a 6-2 run following that timeout. That rally started with a service error by Widener, which the Owls then followed up with a kill from Shue. Widener won the next point, but Bryn Mawr fought that off by winning the next two on a kill by Gates and another attack error. The hosts tied it back up at 24 on the next point, but the Owls closed things out with yet another attack error and a final, set-clinching kill from Rachel Ofili.

The Owls once again took an early lead in the second set, with three straight aces from Moreno helping put the visitors in front 4-2. Widener tried to turn that around, but even through the middle of the set, Bryn Mawr still held a 16-10 lead. However, it was at that point that the Pride went on a seven-point run that even two Bryn Mawr timeouts could not slow down. The Owls tried to dig their way back into the frame, but they would only manage two more kills in the rest of the set as Widener closed out the set on a 15-4 tear. When the dust finally settled, Widener had evened the match up by winning the second set 25-20.

With the momentum behind them from that big run in the second set, Widener jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the third set. Bryn Mawr hung around, though, keeping just close enough to maintain contact with the Pride. Midway through the set, a service error by Widener helped launch a Bryn Mawr run that got them right back in the frame. Holman took the serve and sent over four straight aces for the Owls, getting them within two. Then two Widener attack errors tied things back up at 14-all. Widener momentarily halted the run with two points of their own, but Moreno and Caroline Cosby each netted kills and then Moreno put up an ace of her own to get the Owls all the way back in front at 17-16. The two sides then traded points all the way until it was 22-22 in the late stages of the set. Unfortunately for Bryn Mawr, it was Widener who buckled down and managed to get the last run of the set. An Owls service error put the hosts ahead by one, and then a service ace and an attack error by Ofili gave Widener the 25-22 win in the set.

With the Owls now needing to win the final two sets to win the match, the squad got the fourth frame off to a good start. An ace from Gates and yet another error from the Pride gave Bryn Mawr a 7-5 lead. Widener momentarily re-tied the score, but Bryn Mawr squeaked back in front on a kill from Ofili. Unfortunately, that lead would be short-lived for the Owls. Widener would double their point total in one run, going from an 8-7 deficit to a 14-8 lead. Bryn Mawr tried to answer back, but the Owls didn't do themselves any favors in the set, tallying just four kills against five errors in the frame. Ultimately, Widener coasted to the win in the set, closing out their 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 25-14) victory in the match.

With the loss, the Owls fall to 3-6 on the season. They'll get a great opportunity to pick up a victory or two this weekend, however, as Bryn Mawr hosts their first tri-match of the season on Saturday. The Owls will host Moravian and Valley Forge in the Class of 1958 Gymnasium for the weekend matches. Moravian currently holds an identical 3-6 record on the season, but the Greyhounds are on a bit of a win streak recently, having won the last two matches they've played. Valley Forge is 4-3 on the year after picking up a 3-1 win over Rosemont in their match earlier this evening. The first match on Saturday, between Bryn Mawr and Valley Forge, will begin at 11:00 AM, with the next two contests tentatively slated to start at 1:00 and 3:00 PM.