ALLENTOWN, PA – The No. 4 seeded Cairn University Women's Volleyball team headed up north, Tuesday evening, taking on the No. 1 seeded Falcons of Cedar Crest College in the United East Women's Volleyball Championship – Divisional Semifinal match, where their postseason road ended as the Falcons swept the Highlanders, 3-0.
 
Junior outside hitter Caroline Conrad (Bangkok, Thailand / International Community School) and freshman outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) got Cairn (15-10 / 6-3 United East Skye Division) off to a good start as the Highlanders went ahead 7-4 early on with two kills apiece. Cairn would remain in the driver's seat as two kills by junior opposite Hendryl Peabody (Bensalem, PA / Faith Baptist Christian Academy) kept them ahead 15-11. Cedar Crest (15-8 / 9-0 United East Skye Division) rallied with intensity, scoring 11 straight unanswered points to take the lead back, 24-16, and eventually take the set, 25-17.
 
Cedar Crest was back on the attack in the second frame, going on an early 9-4 run. The Highlanders cut the lead to 11-9 before the Falcons rallied again to go up 18-9. A kill by Conrad would kill the rally and spark one for Cairn as they battled back to a three-point deficit. Peabody collected two more kills before Cedar Crest took the second set, 25-20.
 
The Falcons opened up set three on a 5-0 run. Freshman middle blocker Rachael Banks (Sturgis, SD / Sturgis Brown High School) took over the serve and managed to place on ace onto the Falcon's side to cut the lead to two. Conrad and freshman middle blocker Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent) would team up on a pair of kills to bring the Highlanders within striking distance, down 8-7. As the Falcons soared ahead, Dahn would strike for two kills with Cedar Crest now ahead 21-15. Facing the pressure, Peabody and Conrad went on a rally of their own via three kills and two kills, respectively, to tie the set at 23-23. Cedar Crest would put away the final two points to close the set 25-23.
 
Peabody secured ten kills on the evening, trailed closely by Conrad with nine. Dahn provided 5 kills and a pair of aces while Thorpe smacked two kills onto the Cedar Crest side with a pair of block assists.
 
Senior setter Olivia Zepp (Westminster, MD / Francis Scott Key) closes out her senior season in possession of 1,957 career assists and the fourth highest career assists per set (7.44) in program history. Zepp finished third in the conference in assists (694) leading the Skye Division, having averaged 8.16 assists per set this season. Conrad completes her standout junior season second on the leader board in the Skye division for kills (250) as well as the lead among Skye Division teams in points (369.5) and 6^th in digs, the only non-libero ranking in that category, speaking to the versatility she provided this season. Peabody provided a much needed breakout season, tying Conrad for kills on the season (250) with a .212 hitting percentage. She also played strong as a net defender, leading the Highlanders with 49 total blocks. Dahn, Thorpe, and Banks filled huge roles on a young Highlander squad, Dahn finishing third behind Conrad and Peabody in kills (140) and points (279.5), making a case for Rookie of the Year. Banks and Thorpe worked in tandem to provide a combined 75 total blocks this season in addition to being offensive options in the middle of the court.
 
Cairn Women's Volleyball sets their aim at the 2024 United East Championship and awaits what is in store for them for the 2024 season.