Box Score New Paltz, NY- The Cairn Highlanders traveled to New York to battle the #1 ranked team in the nation, the New Paltz Hawks, and the Highlanders fought as hard as they could, but eventually fell by a score of three games to one.  

Box Score (Coming Soon)

Playing tentatively in the first set, the Highlanders hung close in the early stages, but five straight points from SUNY New Paltz sparked the Hawks to a 25-13 victory in the first set.  Down by one set, Cairn began to realize they could play up to their competition as the Highlanders matched New Paltz point for point throughout the second set.  Neither team was able to gain more than a two point lead until kills from Randall Colson and Josiah Buss, as well as a Colson service ace gave the Highlanders the edge they would need to close out the second set, winning by a score of 25-23 after two New Paltz errors.  The third set followed the same narrative as the first as New Paltz, perhaps stunned by Cairn's resiliency, came out on fire, jumping to a 15-5 lead, and eventually winning 25-13.  Cairn knew they would have to pick up their play to pull off the upset, and kills from Ryan Garven and Colson staked the Highlanders to an 8-5 lead in the beginning of the fourth set.  Cairn held this slim three point margin for the majority of the set, even holding a 19-16 lead; but New Paltz would not be denied, storming back to tie the set 20-20.  With Cairn trailing 24-23, a New Paltz service error gave the Highlanders hope as they tied the affair again, but a kill from New Paltz and a Cairn error spelled the end of the Highlanders upset bid.  


Cairn's top performer's for the night included:

Ryan Garven (12 kills, 5 digs)
Josiah Buss (9 kills, 4 digs)
Jeff Bishop (3 kills, 2 digs, 4 blocks)

Cairn will travel to Lancaster Bible College Wednesday night to face their rivals Lancaster Bible College.