YORK, PA – It took five sets on Tuesday night, but the York College Spartans outlasted Widener University 3-2 in a MAC Commonwealth thriller at Charles Wolf Gymnasium in York.
The Spartans captured the first two sets only to have Widener level the match at two with wins in the third and fourth sets. York earned the win with a 15-10 fifth set victory.
 
Scores: York 3, Widener 2 (25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 20-25, 15-10)
Records: York 9-4 (3-1 MACC), Widener 11-4 (1-2 MACC)
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans raced out to a 13-7 to start set one. York ripped off a six point run late in the set with Jasmine Doguin serving during five of those points. Doguin had a pair of service aces during the run while Megan Rizzi and Sydney Wilber each had a kill. The Pride scored five of the next six points, preventing York from closing out the set. Wilber finally hammered home a kill to close the set for the 25-16 Spartan win.
• York seized the lead early as they led 10-6 early in the set. The Green and White lead remained at six at 19-13 on a Widener attack error. After eight straight alternating points, York led 22-16. The Pride had three straight points, cutting York's lead to three. The Spartans closed out the set with a three-point run of their own to close out the set.
• The third set was incredibly close from the start. There were 16 ties in the opening 36 points. The teams were tied at 18 but the Pride went on an 8-2 to close out set number three, extending the match to a fourth set.
• York got off to a quick start in the fourth set as they seized a 4-1 lead. The Pride bounced back to take an 8-6 lead. York answered with a 7-1 run to take an 12-9 lead. The Pride ripped off a 10-3 run to take a 19-15 lead. After York stopped the run, Widener scored four straight for the 23-16 lead. York scored four of the next five points the Pride closed out the set with a Motz kill to force the fifth set.  
• The hosts sprinted out a 6-2 lead in the fifth set. The Pride eventually ripped off a four-point run, cutting York's lead to 8-7. The Pride cut the lead to 9-8 but York scored five of the next six points to put them in position to finally finish over Widener. That came two points later as Claire Shorb finished the game with a big kill to end the match, 15-10.
 
Spartan Leaders
Tyler Williams: 13 kills, .263 attack %, 1 service ace, 1 solo block, 1 block assists, 8 digs
Claire Shorb: 12 kills, .200 attack %, 2 service aces, 2 block assists, 5 digs
Megan Rizzi: 11 kills, 2 assists, 3 service aces, 11 digs
Abby Diehl: 42 assists, 2 kills, 2 block assists, 9 digs
Jasmine Doguin: 26 digs, 2 assists, 5 service aces
Sydney Wilber: 7 kills, 3 solo blocks, 3 block assists
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 5-3 all-time against Widner as York has won two straight in the series … York won it's first five-set decision of the year, they had entered Wednesday night with an 0-2 mark in matchs that go the distance … the Spartans have won four of their last five and seven of their last nine matches … York had a season-high 47 assists in the win … York had 12 more service aces, the eighth time this year York has reached double figures in aces … York had 15 service errors, their most since the September 11 win over Keuka … York had 11 total blocks as they have reached double figures in the category for the third time this year and the second straight match … junior Sydney Wilber, the reigning MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Week, tied a career high with three solo blocks … libero Jasmine Doguin set a new career-highs with 26 digs and five aces in the victory.
 
Up Next
The Spartans are off for eighth days as they won't return to action until Wednesday, October 6 when they head to Reading to face the Albright in a MAC Commonwealth contest. The match is slated for a 7:00 pm start.