Team efficiency was the key to the Highlanders' three-set victory over the Neumann University Knights Wednesday night. Cairn's 48 kills and .337 attack percentage as a team was one of the best offensive performances by the Highlanders in a three-set match in over a decade. 

Set one was the closest of the three, with the Highlanders and Knights trading points and small runs until the teams were knotted up at 22 points apiece. Cairn went up 24-22 thanks to a Collin Benjamin kill and a Neumann attack error, and then were able to close out the match on a Joe Poirier kill to end the set 25-23. The Highlanders never trailed in set two (25-15) or set three (25-16).

Neumann's defense responded valiantly to the Highlander attack, picking up 38 digs as a team, but Cairn's hitters kept finding ways to put the ball away and the game out of reach. The key to the Highlanders' offense is the continued stellar play of setter Scott Bassill. His 40 assists in the match is a stat not reached by a Cairn setter in a three-set match since 2014.

Cairn was led on the attack by outside hitter and reigning CSAC Player of the Week Will Nase with 14 kills. Several other Highlanders had incredibly efficient hitting outings, including Collin Benjamin (9 kills, .444%), Dave Cassel (6 kills, .286), Joe Poirier (10 kills, .600), and Cameron Cronk, who had 7 kills on 7 attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage.

On the defensive side of the ball, libero and reigning CSAC Defensive Player of the Week Josh Moyer had 11 digs. Collin Benjamin and Scott Bassill both chipped in two blocks apiece.

The Highlanders look to continue their successful season when they face CSAC foe Wilson College next Wednesday (4/7) at 7 PM.