MORRISTOWN, NJ - In a battle of the top two teams in the CSAC, the Highlanders emerged victorious over the Saint Elizabeth University Eagles with a 3-1 victory.

Set one was an incredibly tight battle between the two undefeated teams in conference play, with neither team able to pull more than two points ahead of the other for most of the set. The Eagles forced set point at 24-20, but the Highlanders were able to rattle off three straight points to pull within one. An Eagle kill, however, sealed the set in the Eagles' favor, 25-23. This was the first set loss for the Highlanders in regulation play since February 27th, when they dropped a 3-0 match to Lancaster Bible College to open the season.

The Highlanders were not deflated with the first set loss, however, and jumped right back in to battle through the second set. Like the first, the second set was close throughout, and the Highlanders trailed by a few points for most of the second set. The Eagles actually held a 5-point lead at 20-15 and looked like they would cruise to a 2-0 set lead when the Highlanders dug their heels in and pushed for the comeback. A Dave Cassel service ace tied the set up at 23-23, and a Will Nase kill gave the Highlanders their first chance at a set point, when the Eagles tied it up with a kill of their own to force the win-by-two tiebreaker. An Eagles service error followed by a Caleb Horning kill secured the Highlanders the comeback and tied the game up at 1 set apiece. A much-improved hitting percentage helped the Highlanders battle back; after only hitting .091 in the first set, Cairn hit a very efficient .346 in the second set with only 3 errors as a team. 

The massive comeback clearly swung the momentum to Cairn, who came out roaring in set three and jumped out to an early 10-3 lead. The lead continued to stretch for the Highlanders thanks to good attacking from Caleb Horning and Collin Benjamin and the stifling block of Benjamin and Scott Bassill, and the Highlanders cruised to a 25-10 set three win to take the lead in the match, 2-1.

Set four stayed close for the first half, with the Highlanders holding to a 2-point lead at 12-10, but were again able to pull away with good net play and secured the fourth set, 25-15, and the match, 3-1.

On offense, Cairn was led by Caleb Horning, who had an incredible overall game earning a rare volleyball double-double of 15 kills and 16 digs. Horning also had a very efficient game, hitting at a .303 clip to also lead his team. The Highlanders' incredible front line earned 14.5 team blocks, led by Scott Bassill (8), Joe Poirier (7), Collin Benjamin (4), and Dave Cassel (4). Bassill also dished out 36 assists and did his usual excellent job of spreading the offense around, as each starting Highlander recorded at least two kills (including starting libero Josh Moyer).

With the win, the Highlanders have secured the number one overall seed headed into the CSAC championship tournament this Saturday, 4/24. They will face the #4 seed, Wilson College (0-3 CSAC) at 1 PM in the first semifinal matchup. 

CSAC Championship Seeding:

#1 Cairn University (3-0 CSAC)
#2 Saint Elizabeth University (2-1 CSAC)
#3 University of Valley Forge (1-2 CSAC)
#4 Wilson College (0-3 CSAC)