LANGHORNE, PA- The Highlanders lost an incredibly tight match against the Falcons of Cedar Crest College this afternoon.

Having endured a tough stretch over the last couple weeks, the Highlanders women's volleyball team can look forward with optimism for the rest of the season as they are finally playing at full strength. After a handy loss in the first set, the Highlanders found their rhythm over the next three sets with only five points separating Cairn from a victory. Cairn took control early in the second set, staking themselves to a commanding 20-12 lead thanks to multiple kills from Brie Norton and Haley Sheehan. After another Sheehan kill, the Highlanders led 24-16, before the Falcons mounted a furious run- scoring 7 straight and coming within one point of tying the game. Cairn never panicked though, as Norton caught the defense off guard with a sneaky dump over the top of Cedar Crest's blockers to complete the Highlander victory 25-23.

Emboldened by the victory, the Highlanders battled hard in the third set. taking the lead at 15-14 at the midpoint of the set. However, after trading blows, an error from Cairn, and two kills by the Falcons would put the match out of reach and Cairn lost 25-22. The fourth set was an absolute thriller, as each team traded three and four point runs throughout the early going, eventually ending up tied 21-all. The Highlanders would score four of the next six points to take the lead 24-23, but two straight kills by the Falcons and a Lyntia Gwess smash that narrowly landed on the wrong side of the back line would spell the end of the Highlanders run.

Cairn was led by Sheehan who played an excellent match with 14 kills and 14 digs, Norton who tallied 23 digs and 9 kills, and Liz White with 27 assists.

The Highlanders host Delaware Valley University next Thursday at 7:00 PM.