LANGHORNE, PA- Fresh off their first conference victory over the Centenary Cyclones on Wednesday evening, the Highlanders returned to action this morning, with their non-conference match against Rutgers Newark kicking off the 2018 homecoming festivities.
 
 
The Highlanders got off to a blistering start against an incredibly talented Scarlet Raider squad, rattling off a 7-4 lead to put the Scarlet Raiders on their heels early.  The Highlanders added to their early lead when Haley Sheehan brilliantly kept the play alive with an excellent dig from the back wall, that led to a kill from stalwart OH Lyntia Gwess and put the Highlanders up 9-7. The Highlanders continued to pour on the charge, utilizing a block by Brie Norton to take a 17-12 lead midway through the first set.  The Highlanders drew energy from a raucous home crowd to keep the pressure on the Scarlet Knights, as Haley Sheehan thundered home a gorgeous kill off an excellent dish from setter Liz White, sealing the first set for the Highlanders by a score of 25-20.
 
 
Looking to keep the pressure on early in the second set, the Highlanders could not find the same rhythm from the first set, leading to an early 5-4 lead for the Scarlet Raiders.  Needing a response, freshman MB Allison Barnes picked up a much needed block to knot the second set up at 8-apiece.  After a brief lapse of concentration led to two consecutive aces by the Scarlet Knights, the Highlanders picked up two kills themselves to cut the Scarlet Knight lead to 14-12.  Unfortunately for the Highlanders, the Scarlet Knight attack proved to be too much, as the Highlanders dropped the second set by a score of 25-18, bringing the match all square at one set each.
 
 
The Scarlet Knights started off the third set in command, notching 5 of the first seven points to take an early 5-2 lead.  Down 11-4 midway through the third set, Head Coach Whitney Seidel burned a timeout after a handful of errors in order to collect her troops in hopes of a comeback.  However, the Scarlet Knights again rallied through, taking the third set 25-13, and taking the lead in the match for the first time, 2-1.
 
 
Needing a victory in the fourth set to extend the match, the Highlanders got off to a blazing start, notching four of the first five points to set the tempo early. Despite that blistering start, the Scarlet Knights went on scoring run of their own, tallying the next eight points to take a commanding 9-4 lead in the fourth set. The Highlanders responded with a thunderous block by freshman MB Allison Barnes to keep the Scarlet Knight lead close at 13-8.  Sensing the set coming to a close in favor of the Scarlet Knights, Head Coach Whitney Seidel used a timeout looking to keep the Highlanders hopes alive and extend the match.  Despite the Highlanders best efforts, the Scarlet Knights proved to be too much in this contest, as they would take the fourth set 25-16, thus sealing the match for Rutgers Newark, 3-1.
 
 
Despite the loss, the Highlanders did an excellent job to kick homecoming off on an exciting note.  The Highlanders Lyntia Gwess picked up 9 kills and 22 digs to lead the Highlanders, with Haley Sheehan right behind with 8 kills of her own. The Highlanders will be back in action October 3rd when they take on Penn State Abington at the Mason Activity Center at 7:00 PM.