Box Score Langhorne, PA - The Falcons of Messiah snapped a Highlanders three-game winning streak to start the season, claiming a 3-1 win.

Box Score

In a close opening set, Messiah broke a 10-10 scoreline and led the rest of the way to take a 1-0 lead with a 25-20 set win.

Messiah was in control the entire second set, jumping out to an 11-4 lead early on and eventually taking the set 25-13.

With their backs to the wall, the Highlanders responded with a convincing 25-15 third set win. With the Cairn clinging to a 9-8 lead, the Highlanders went on a 13-3 tear to break things wide open, cutting Messiah's lead to 2-1.

The fourth set would prove to be a barn-burner as the teams battled neck-to-neck the whole way, never separated by more than three points at any time. The Highlanders held a late lead, 21-19 before the Falcons restored things at 21-21. Cairn pushed ahead with a two-point surge to inch closer to forcing a dangerous 5th set, taking a 23-21 advantage. But the Falcons refused to give up on the chance to end things in the fourth, eventually battling back to a 24-24 score. In the end, it was back-to-back Cairn attacking errors that called an end to the match, as Messiah completed the day with a 26-24 fourth set win, taking things 3-1 overall.

Messiah's Jane Underman had a game-high 14 kills, while teammate Jessica Geib recorded 45 assists.

For Cairn, junior Brigid Shehan had a team-high 11 kills. Shehan and setter Erin Greenwood tied for a game-high of 11 digs. Greenwood registered 34 assists.

The defeat was the first on the year for Cairn, dropping them to 3-1 on the season. On Tuesday, the Highlanders will travel to NCAA Div. II Philadelphia University for a 6pm match. The Rams claimed a 3-0 win over the Highlanders in 2012.

With the win, Messiah remains perfect on the season with a 4-0 mark.