CHESTER, Pa. – The Messiah Women's Volleyball team clinched a spot in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs with a win on Tuesday night, taking down the Pride of Widener University in five sets (20-25, 25-13, 25-16, 22-25, 15-13).
 
In set one, the Pride built a big lead early and didn't let up, taking the set. Widener took another early lead in set two, but Messiah took over to win the set by double digits. Messiah used the momentum to take the third set, but Widener pulled away late in a close fourth set, sending the match to a fifth set. The fifth set was back-and-forth, but Messiah pulled away at the end to take the set and the match. Julia Bowen led the Falcons with 15 kills, while Makenzie Adams added a double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs. Sydney Wolfe added 12 kills and four blocks.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena against Susquehanna University on Thursday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m.
 
Set One
Widener started the set well, taking a 10-0 lead. Makenzie Adams got the Falcons on the board with a kill, starting an eight-point run for the Messiah. This run included kills from Sydney Wolfe and Katie Quesenberry, as well as a double block from the pair, and a service ace from Leah Youtzy. Widener restored a bit of their lead, winning the next few points to make it 13-9. Julia Bowen responded with two kills for Messiah, cutting the Pride lead to one, at 14-13. However, Widener regained momentum, building the lead back up to seven points, at 21-14. Julia Bowen, Makenzie Adams, and Leah Youtzy each added one more kill in the set, but the Pride held on to take the set, 25-20.
 
Set Two
Widener used their momentum to start the second set well, taking an 8-4 lead. Messiah responded with a double block by Katie Quesenberry and Cassidy Dell, followed by kills from Julia Bowen and Leah Youtzy, plus a service ace from Dell to make it 9-8, Widener. The Pride took the next point to make it 10-8, but two kills from Sydney Wolfe and one kill from both Makenzie Adams and Julia Bowen gave Messiah the lead, at 13-10. Katie Quesenberry, Sydney Wolfe, and Makenzie Adams would all pick up kills for Messiah as the Falcons rolled the rest of the set, winning 25-13.
 
Set Three
Sydney Wolfe and Erin Eby each tallied early kills and Courtney Wolf dropped in a service ace as the teams battled to a 4-4 tie. The Falcons began to gain control, with service aces from Makenzie Adams and Erin Eby, plus two kills from Julia Bowen, giving Messiah an 11-6 lead. Makenzie Adams picked up two kills and Hannah Thomas added a service ace, with the Falcons leading by eight, up 18-10. A kill from Katie Quesenberry and two kills from Leah Youtzy helped the Falcons finish off the set, winning 25-16.
 
Set Four
The teams started the set even, with Julia Bowen and Makenzie Adams each tallying two kills, with the score tied 5-5. Bowen picked up another kill, while Cassidy Dell dropped in a service ace, with the score still tied, 10-10. Hannah Thomas then dropped in back-to-back service aces and Sydney Wolfe and Leah Youtzy combined for a block to give Messiah a 12-9 lead. Widener won three straight points to tie it before Makenzie Adams and Sydney Wolfe each tacked on kills, with the set tied 14-14. Widener began to take over, quickly taking the lead back and extending it to six points, at 22-16. Julia Bowen picked up three more kills in the set, and Erin Eby scored a service ace, but the Pride stayed out of reach, winning 25-22, forcing a deciding fifth set.
 
Set Five
Sydney Wolfe picked up three kills in the first four points to give Messiah a quick 3-1 lead. Widener then found their footing, stringing a few points together, tying the set 5-5. Erin Eby dropped in a service ace to give Messiah the lead back, but Widener tied it right away, with the score now 6-6. Julia Bowen and Sydney Wolfe each tallied kills to give the Falcons the lead, at 9-7, but Widener responded with a three-point run to take the lead,10-9. Leah Youtzy tied it with a kill, followed by a block from Katie Quesenberry and Sydney Wolfe to give the Falcons an 11-10 lead. The teams began trading points again, but Makenzie Adams picked up a service ace to give the Falcons set point, up 14-12. Widener fought off one set point, making it 14-13, but Julia Bowen tallied the final kill, giving Messiah the set, match, and a spot in the MAC Commonwealth Playoffs.
 
Stats
Julia Bowen led the Falcons with 15 kills, while Makenzie Adams added a double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs. Sydney Wolfe added 12 kills and four blocks. Erin Eby had a team-high 18 digs and added three service aces. Katie Quesenberry had six kills with five blocks, while Leah Youtzy had six kills with three blocks.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena against Susquehanna University on Thursday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m.