Langhorne, PA - Cairn University fought for four sets against Immaculata University but ultimately fell 3-1 in the first round of the 2014 CSAC Playoffs. Cairn lost the first set 25-15 but came back to win the second 25-19. Immaculata finished off the win with two tightly played sets 25-20 and 25-22.
With the loss, Cairn dropped to 12-18 and finished off their 2014 season.
KATE STEGER led all players in attacking with 22 kills in her return to action after a minor ankle injury forced her to miss a few matches.
BRIGID SHEHAN played her final game in a Cairn jersey as the senior and killed the ball 16 times.
Shehan also led the team in digs with 22 and brought her season total to 425. The team collected 76 total digs compared to Immaculata's 64. Cairn also led in total kills 50-34 and
SAMI DELFINO acquired her season-high assists with 46.
Where Cairn lacked on the stats sheet was in service aces. The Mighty Macs aced the ball 11 times to Cairn's one. Immaculata also committed just 19 attacking errors to Cairn's 32.
The Highlanders were able to turn the match around in the second set by hitting a team percentage of .205, while the Mighty Macs hit a negative percentage of -.061. Cairn went down 10-8 in the set after a 6-1 run by Immaculata. The set was then played evenly until Cairn tied the match at 18-18. From there the Highlanders finished off the set with an 8-1 run.
The Mighty Macs jumped out to big leads in the third set but Cairn brought the score back to a tie both times and took the lead 13-11. Immaculata gained the lead once more at 20-16 and Cairn rattled off three straight to come within one at 20-19. The Mighty Macs finished on a 5-1 run though for the 25-20 win.
Cairn had to battle back from a deficit throughout the fourth set as well and came within two at 21-19 thanks to a block by
WHITNEY SEIDEL and
KELSEY JOHNSON. The Highlanders played well at the net collecting 18 block assists and three solo blocks.
Immaculata drew the set out to a match point at 24-19 but Cairn did their best to mount a comeback.
KATE STEGER scored three straight points with two kills and one of her solo blocks to come within two at 24-22. The Mighty Macs took a timeout and promptly finished the match with a kill by Stephanie Johler. Johler hit 10 kills in the match; second to Arden Vizzard with 12 for the Mighty Macs.
