BALTIMORE, MD – The Cairn Women's Volleyball team opened up United East Skye Division play on Saturday evening, facing the Gators of Notre Dame (MD) on the road as the Highlanders fell 3-1.
 
Notre Dame (6-8 / 1-1 United East Skye Division) came out strong in the first set, taking an 8-3 lead on Cairn (8-7 / 0-1 United East Skye Division). The Highlanders would tally four kills from junior outside hitter Caroline Conrad (Bangkok, Thailand / International Community School) as they dropped the set 25-11.
 
The second frame began with a different tone as the teams traded points and the Highlanders kept themselves within striking distance. Cairn took their first lead of the afternoon at 16-15 on an ace by sophomore defensive specialist Delaney Hollenbeck (Kingsley, PA / Lackawanna College). Conrad would then collect two more kills as the Highlanders dropped set 2, 25-23.
 
With the pressure mounting, Cairn opened up set 3 on a 7-2 run as junior opposite Hendryl Peabody (Bensalem, PA / Faith Baptist Christian Academy) and freshman outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) would combine for three kills. The Gators would come back to within a single point as the Highlanders continued to press forward. Hollenbeck would deliver another ace as well as two kills from freshman middle blocker Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent) to propel Cairn to take set three, 25-16.
 
Set 4 would see the Highlanders go up 8-4 in the opening points. Notre Dame would rally back on three kills to go ahead 11-8. Conrad and Thorpe would tie the set at 12-12 with a kill each. Peabody would score three kills in a row to push the Highlanders up 17-14. The Gators would rally back to take a 22-20 lead. Thorpe would score the last kill for Cairn as the Highlanders fell in the fourth set, 25-21.
 
Conrad recorded a match-high 16 kills along with 23 digs. Peabody would add 12 kills along with 6 block assists. Hollenbeck had a team-high 4 aces while senior setter Olivia Zepp (Westminster, MD / Francis Scott Key) provided a match-high 31 assists.
 
The Highlanders host Clarks Summit on Wednesday night in Langhorne for their home conference opener as part of Experience Cairn Athletics Night at 7 p.m.