Cairn avenges their 5-set heartbreaking home loss to Neumann in 2020 and quickly dispatched the Knights in three sets with scores of 25-13, 25-15, and 25-18.

After opening their season with a tough loss on the road, the Highlanders have quickly found their rhythm and put together a dominant run as of late, winning their last three games coming into tonight's matchup. Cairn rode that momentum into the first set of tonight's game, with two huge serving runs from senior middle blocker Collin Benjamin keeping the Knights at arms length for the duration of the set. The other Highlander middle, newcomer Joe Poirier, had an efficient first set, with three kills on three attempts to lead all players.

Set two found the Highlanders and Knights trading some multi-point runs. The Knights drew within four points on a Highlander error to make it 10-14, but a Benjamin/Cassel block and a Benjamin kill swung the momentum back towards the Highlanders. Will Nase led a four-point serving run to end the set with Cairn in the lead, 25-15.

After going down 3-2 early in set three, Caleb Horning rattled off a massive 10-point service run, including three aces, to put the Highlanders up 13-3. A Collin Benjamin service run soon followed, with two aces of his own to make it 17-6 and seemingly putting the game out of reach for Neumann. However, the Knights clawed their way back, using some scrappy defensive plays and Highlander errors to draw within 5 points of Cairn at 22-17. Never wavering, the Highlanders used a Neumann service error, a Cameron Cronk ace, and a Will Nase kill to earn their final three points and take the final set, 25-18.

After his breakout game against the University of Valley Forge, freshman outside hitter Will Nase continued his excellent play, putting down 10 kills as high man of the game for either team. Senior Collin Benjamin stuffed the stat sheet yet again, with nine kills and only one error for a .533 hitting percentage, five aces, three blocks, and four digs. Setter Scott Bassill dished out 27 assists. 

The Highlanders will return to action in the Mason Activity Center this Saturday when they take on the Monarchs of King's College.