BROOKLYN, NY- Attempting to shake off the rust of a relaxing spring break, the Highlanders fell in their first match back against the Brooklyn Bulldogs.
 
Seeking another non-conference victory, the Highlanders played their hearts out against Brooklyn. Micah Godshall and Ryan Ludvik connected from the start keeping the Highlanders even with Brooklyn in the first set. The Highlanders trailed by one point in the middle of the first set, when the Bulldogs opened it up with a 6 point run to take the lead 22-16. With little room for error, the Highlanders were unable to rally all the way back, losing the first set 18-25. Cairn used a couple huge runs to take control of the second set, 10-7. The Bulldogs battled back to bring the score closer, 14-15 in favor of Cairn, but the Highlanders scored 6 of the last 7 points to take the second set, 25-18. The third set brought the drama as Cairn led early, but the Bulldogs mounted a 6 point run to take the lead 19-16 towards the end of the set. Trailing by 3, a kill from Godshall and two Bulldog errors allowed Cairn to tie the game at 21 all. In a game that went far past regulation, Cairn held the advantage, leading 25-24 and 26-25 after kills from Godshall. Brooklyn scored the next two points to go back on top, but Ryan Ludvik and Ben Norton would tally kills of their own to keep the Highlanders alive. Unfortunately, with the score at 28-28, Brooklyn would finish with two more kills to complete the third set victory, 30-28. Reeling after such a dramatic loss in the third set, the Highlanders were unable to resuscitate the match, dropping the fourth set, 22-25, and the match 1-3.
 
Cairn is back in action today with a trimatch at the College of Staten Island, taking on Lehman College at 1:00 PM and CSI at 3:00 PM.