LANGHORNE, PA- In front of a packed crowd Thursday evening, the Highlanders took to the floor in a decisive conference battle against Keystone College on Dig Pink night!
 
SET ONE
Keystone College got the better of the Highlanders early on in the first set, jumping out to a quick 11-0 and putting the Highlanders on their heels. However, the Highlanders would not be denied, as they mounted a furious comeback, using thunderous kills by Lyntia Gwess and Allison Barnes to reduce the deficit to 18-13 in favor of the Giants.  Feeling the energy of the Highlander fans on this special evening, Cairn continued to cut into the Keystone lead when Haley Sheehan took advantage of a miscommunication on the Keystone back line, slamming home the kill to cut the Giants lead to 21-18. Despite the Highlanders best efforts, the Giants snuck away with the first set victory by a score of 25-22.
 
SET TWO
Unwilling to get off to another slow start, the Highlanders came out guns blazing in the second set, taking an early 8-6 lead thanks to a handful of kills from Gwess, and a crucial serving run from Barnes.  The set continued to go back and forth, with both teams exchanging the lead multiple times until the Highlanders Haley Sheehan delivered a beautifully placed serve to give the Highlanders a 16-14 lead. However, Keystone showed their experience and savvy in the close set, living up to their 4-1 CSAC record, storming back to knot the game back up at 23.  However, this set belonged to the Highlanders, as Brooke Seidel notched a perfect service ace and Barnes smashed home the final kill, sealing the set for the Highlanders and knotting the match up at 1-1.
 
SET THREE
Feeding off the energy from their previous set victory, the Highlanders continued to apply the pressure on the Giant back line, as Brooke Seidel got in on the action with a kill to put the Highlanders ahead with an early 2-0 lead. Keystone bounced back, using a 9 point run to take the lead and the third set, 25-13.
 
SET FOUR
Trailing in the match 2-1, the Highlanders needed to win the 4th set to extend the match to a 5th and final set.  Feeling the energy of the Highlanders awesome home crowd, the Giants sought to finish the match in the fourth and zoomed out to a hot start, notching 9 of the first 12 points in the set to take an early 9-3 lead.  After such spirited play, the Highlanders were unable to summon one more run, dropping the set 25-12, and the match 3-1.
 
WRAP UP
With the loss, the Highlanders drop to 7-15 on the season, and 3-3 in CSAC play with two more matches remaining.  Despite the loss on the court, the Highlanders first annual "Dig Pink" fundraiser proved to be a rousing success, as Cairn Women's Volleyball raised over one thousand dollars for breast cancer research! The Highlanders will be back in action next Wednesday when they travel to Clarks Summit to take on the Defenders.  Game time set for 7:00 PM.