ASTON, Pa. – The Cairn University men's volleyball team earned their first victory of the season with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-16, 25-15) sweep at non-conference foe Neumann University on Tuesday evening.
Cairn (1-3) held a narrow 7-5 lead in the first set, before igniting for nine-consecutive points to take a commanding lead and finished off Neumann (4-6) in set one. In set two, the Highlanders held a 14-12 lead at the midway point before going on another rally, this time to the tune of a 11-3 swing to finish the set to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. Cairn continued its momentum into the final set, as the Knights did not hold a lead for the entire third frame and Cairn finished off the shutout.
Cairn recorded its best hitting percentage of the season at .232 for the match, hammering home 34 kills compared to just 15 errors. The Highlanders were led offensively by sophomore
Joe Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School) who slammed down a season-high six kills to go along with four service aces.
Five Highlanders followed with five kills a-piece, including senior
Dave Cassel (Silverdale, PA / Pennridge) juniors
Cameron Cronk (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown),
Joshua Hoagland (Chiang Ria, Thailand / Chiang Rai International Christian) and
Caleb Horning (Adamstown, PA / Lancaster Bible College) and sophomore
Will Nase (Harleysville, PA / Souderton). Cronk recorded a .833 hitting percentage with no errors while Cassel finished with a .444 mark. Junior
Shea Scott (Harleysville, PA / Souderton) dished out 23 assists and scooped up 12 digs on defense (both match-highs).
Cairn will be back in action on Tuesday, February 22 when it comes home for its first match inside the Mason Activity Center this season against non-conference adversary Elizabethtown College at 7 p.m.
