Langhorne, PA - After beginning the 2017 campaign with 13 matches away from home, the Cairn men's volleyball team finally returned to the friendly confines of the Mason Activity Center for their first home match of the season. The Highlanders hosted the Thiel Tomcats on Friday night. The Tomcats spoiled the home opener, winning in straight-sets 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-19) over the Highlanders.
 
Ryan Ludvik was asked to slot as an outside hitter on Friday night and the sophomore responded with 13 kills in the match and a .393 hitting percentage. Both marks were career highs for Ludvik, who had previously collected just 15 kills in his career (33 matches).
 
The Highlanders jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a kill from Ludvik to start the first set. The Tomcats responded with a 4-1 to double-up the Highlanders 4-2 in the early going. The two sides played pretty level through the first half of the set. Cairn held a slim 10-8 lead after a 3-1 run broke a 7-7 tie. Cairn collected all three of their points on the run from kills, with Ludvik, Joffrey Rosa, and Andy Willits each registering a kill.
 
With Cairn grasping to a 16-15 lead after another kill from Ludvik, the Tomcats rattled off five-straight points with Zach Rombach serving to take a 19-16 lead and force a Cairn timeout. The timeout worked as the Highlanders went on a 4-2 run immediately following the breather to pull within one at 21-20. Unfortunately, Thiel closed out the set with a 4-1 run to take the first set by a 25-21 final.
 
Much like the first set, the second stanza opened with the two sides trading the lead. Cairn held an 11-10 lead before a string of five-straight points went in Thiel's favor. Including the 5-0 run the Tomcats won seven of the next eight points to turn the tides and take a comfortable 17-12 lead in the set.
 
Cairn and Thiel traded points until the score stood at 20-16 in favor of the Tomcats. Thiel turned it on and closed out the sent with an impressive 5-1 run. The Tomcats won the set 25-17 and went to the third set with a 2-0 advantage.
 
After a number of small runs for both sides started the third set, the score stood even at 10-10. Thiel then went on a brief 4-1, but it was all the momentum they would need. The unassuming run gave the Tomcats a slim lead at 14-11, but they would not give it back the rest of the way. Cairn briefly closed within one at 15-14, but Thiel responded with a 6-2 run to push the lead up to five at 21-16.
 
A few points later, a 4-1 run closed out the set and handed Thiel a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-19) sweep of the Highlanders.
 
In addition to Ludvik's strong night, Andy Willits chimed in with six kills on 14 attacks for a .214 hitting percentage. Juston Wolgemuth (four) and Joffrey Rosa (two) also recorded double-digit kills in the match.
 
The loss drops the Highlanders to 2-12 overall and 0-1 in the CVC. It also ends a modest, two-match winning streak for Cairn, but they have a chance to respond quickly as they next take the court tomorrow night when the No. 14 Juniata Eagles come to town. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.