Box Score

Langhorne, PA - It was the 2009 season the last time Cairn University's men's volleyball team lost to Hunter College. Since then, the Highlanders and Hawks have met 5 times in the past 3 seasons, with Cairn holding a 5-0 record. Tuesday nights matchup was the 6th match since that loss.

In a thriller, the Highlanders extended their winning streak over Hunter College to six games in a row with a 3-2 win.

Senior outside hitter Noah Prickett has been on an early season tear, averaging over 3 kills a set, and he didn't disappoint the home crowd. He finished with a game-high 19 kills and a team-high 11 digs. Jon Wilson tallied 46 assists and 10 digs. Hunter College had trouble breaching the Highlanders defense on a number of attacks, and in particular getting past Ethan Mawhinney who posted a solid 10-block match for a game-high. Ryan Garven posted 12 kills.

Braien Otsla and Matthew Ng both registered 17 kills for the Hawks in a two-pronged attack. Stanley Martinez finished with 45 assists on the night.

Cairn was in control throughout the opening set, quickly building an early lead and setting the tempo of play. The Highlanders held a 7-point lead at several moments during the set with the last such lead coming at 23-16. Both teams scored two more points before Cairn claimed an opening 25-18 win and 1-0 lead overall.

The Highlanders were well on their way to taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the contest when they found themselves leading 11-3 in the second set. The Hawks, however, used a couple of small runs to fight back into the game and eventually cut the lead to two points, 20-18. At that point, Hunter went on a 5-0 run to take their first lead at 23-20 and would hold on for the 25-23 win.

With the teams knotted at 1-1, little could separate them in the early proceedings of the third set. Cairn clung to a 13-12 lead before turning out an 8-1 run to build a 21-13 advantage. The Highlanders would close it out 25-20, resisting a late Hunter College rally.

Needing a win to stay in the contest, Hunter used the momentem from their late third set rally to kick-start their fourth set. The Hawks muscled out to a 14-6 lead and would keep the Highlanders at arms length to force a crucial fifth set, winning the fourth 25-20.

With it all to play for, Cairn went in to the closing chapter leading 13-12 when a service error gave them a 14-12 lead. A Highlander attack error made it 14-13 and had the Cairn crowd holding their breath, despite the traditional synchronized clapping with the hope of a match winning point coming.  After a suspensful back-and-forth rally, Jon Wilson setup Stephen Hirsch for an outside slam to end the match in Cairn's favor 15-13. Cairn claimed the 3-2 home victory.

The win improves Cairn to 3-4 on the season. Hunter College is still looking for their first win of the season, starting 2013 off with an 0-3 record.

Cairn will travel to Greenville, PA this weekend to take part in their first of three Continental Volleyball Conference weekends for their first conference matches of the season. The Highlanders will see the likes of Carthage College, Fontbonne University, and non-conference Cazenovia College.