MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's volleyball team battled Widener University to a close opening set, but the Pride came away with a 3-0 sweep to spoil the Rangers' home opener Thursday evening in Baldwin Gym.
 
Widener won by scores of 29-27, 25-19, and 25-20.
 
Junior Andrew DuHaime led the Rangers with eight kills and six digs while senior Ephraim Smith posted seven kills and six digs. Freshman Michael Shipman contributed five kills and four blocks, and classmate Matthew Adegbite also threw down five kills. Freshman Quinn Donahue handed out 18 assists for Drew.
 
Matthew Christ paced Widener (1-2) with 15 kills and seven digs.
 
The Pride raced out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, but the Rangers regrouped with a 12-5 run, taking the lead on a kill from Smith.
 
The rest of the set was an extremely close affair that included 12 ties and three lead changes. The Rangers were serving for set point at 24-23 following another Smith kill, but Widener stayed alive with a kill of its own. Drew pulled even at 25-25 on a kill from junior Barend Oostdam, at 26-26 on a kill from DuHaime, and at 27-27 on a Widener service error. However, the Pride scored the final two points of the set on a kill and a Drew attack error.
 
The Rangers posted their top hitting performance of the match in the opening set, firing 12 kills and making just two errors on 25 attempts for a .400 percentage.
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Drew never led in the second set after Widener opened on 9-5 run. The Rangers did, however, rally to tie the match at 14-all following back-to-back kills from Smith. A kill from Adegbite pulled Drew within 19-18 before Widener ended the set on a 7-1 spurt.
 
The Pride opened up a gap early in the third set, ahead 11-5 open the stanza. The Rangers got as close as 18-15, but Widener outscored Drew 7-2 the rest of the way.
 
The Blue and Green pick up their schedule on Wednesday, when they visit Ramapo College at 7 p.m. in another non-conference tilt.