ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's volleyball team battled to four sets with Widener University on Wednesday evening but fell 3-1 in the non-conference match.
 
Ryan Bollinger led the Knights with 10 kills and 15 digs. Roddy Rountree and Zack Strickland each added nine kills. Strickland also tallied 11 digs. Kyle Slinkman notched 13 digs and Conner Kolek added 10. Jules Maiorano handed out 29 assists.
 
The Pride won the first two sets by scores of 25-19 and 28-26. Widener took the first four points of set one before Neumann came back and tied the game at five. The teams went back and forth and the Knights took an 18-15 lead. The Pride then scored seven straight points and 10 of the final 11 points for the 25-19 first set win.
 
In set two, each team went on some mini runs and were knotted at 19. The Knights got to set point, but the Pride scored the next three points for a 25-24 advantage. The teams then tied the score again at 26 before Widener took the set 28-26.
 
The third set was back and forth, just as the first two. Widener took a 17-12 lead. Neumann came back and netted the next five points for a 17-all score. Kills by Strickland and Kolek put the Knights up 24-23. Neumann took advantage of a Widener attack error to take set three 25-23.
 
In set four and the teams knotted at 11, the Pride scored five straight points. The Knights continued to push forward and tied the game at 19. Neumann battled until the end, but could not force a fifth set and fell 25-23 in the fourth set.
 
Neumann (2-11) will head west for a tri-match at Thiel College on Friday evening. The Knights will face Mount Union at 6:00 PM followed by host Thiel at 8:00 PM.