LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University women's volleyball team lost at home against Gwynedd Mercy University by a score of 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 15-25, 18-25) on Tuesday evening.
 
Cairn (2-9) struck first after stealing the first set from the Griffins late in the set. Gwynedd (5-8) led 22-18 before Cairn scored four-straight point to knot up the set. The Griffins took a 23-22 lead on the net point, but the Highlanders rattled off three-straight points to win the set and take a 1-0 lead in the match. The second set was equally as contested, but this time it was the Highlanders on the wrong end of a comeback effort, as the Griffins battled back from trailing 23-21 late in the set to score four-straight points and knot the match up at 1-1. The Griffins took the momentum from that set and handily won the third frame, 25-15. Gwynedd also got out to a commanding 22-12 lead in set four. However, the Highlanders scored six-straight points with their backs against the wall to almost force a fifth-and final set. Gwynedd survived the comeback effort, claiming the last three points to win the match.
 
Cairn was paced by freshman Peyton Queen (Miami, FL / Lake Mary HS) who put together the best all-around performance of her young career, registering her first career triple double with 10 kills, 14 assists and 16 digs (career-high kills and assists). Freshman Caroline Conrad (Bangkok, Thailand / International Community School) led the Highlanders offense with 12 kills and also earned 28 digs (both career-highs). Conrad also posted a team-best .265 hitting percentage. Junior Kali Burres (Wanaque, NJ / Hawthorne Christian) and freshman Katie Strickland (Suffolk, VA / Portsmouth Christian) also chipped in seven kills (career-high for Strickland), while Burres registered 16 digs. Junior libero Lizzy Fay (Langhorne, PA / Neshaminy) scooped up a career-high 30 digs to lead the Highlander defense.
 
Cairn will be back on the court on Thursday, September 30 when it travels to Maryland for its first official Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) contest against Notre Dame (MD) at 7 p.m.