Highlanders Defeated by Eastern Mennonite University

Box Score Harrisonburg, VA- In the Cairn Highlanders second match of the weekend the Highlanders were defeated in straight sets by the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University.

Box Score

Perhaps worn down by hours of travel and two straight matches the Cairn Highlanders could not seem to find their groove against conference opponent Eastern Mennonite University. In the first set the Highlanders grabbed an early lead due to multiple kills from Ryan Garven and a service ace from setter Jon Wilson. The Royals fought back to take a 15-13 lead, but three errors from Eastern Mennonite and a Ryan Garven service ace put the Highlanders up two, 17-15. The teams traded points and EMU was ahead 25-24, but a Randall Colson kill kept Cairn alive. A Cairn error and a kill from the Royals spelled the end of the first set and the Highlanders lost the first set, 27-25. The second set saw the teams trade points for the majority, until a seven point run put the Royals well ahead, 22-10. Outside hitters Josiah Buss and Garven did their best to bring the Highlanders back, trading service aces and kills, but the Highlanders were unable to come all the way back falling 25-19. In the third set the teams played a fairly even contest, but the Highlanders trailed 22-17 in the late stages of the set. Two kills from Garven and three errors from EMU brought the Highlanders as close as one point, but the Royals were able to stay steady and finish the set, winning 25-23.

Cairn was led this afternoon by Ryan Garven's kills (17), Josiah Buss's all-around game (11 kills, 3 service aces, 3 digs), and the passing of Matt Rhodes and Michael Emond (tied with 5 digs).

The Highlanders will host Liberty University and Hannibal LaGrange University this Tuesday in a tri-match that starts at 2:00 PM.