MAHWAH, NJ – The Cairn University Men's Volleyball team hit the road for the first time in 2024, squaring off with the Roadrunners of Ramapo College of New Jersey, where they were swept 3-0 in non-conference play.
 
Cairn (0-2) got another hot start, grabbing a 5-3 and then 8-5 lead over Ramapo (1-0). Freshman outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) and senior opposite hitter Joe Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) each had a pair of kills forcing an 18-18 tie before the Roadrunners pulled away to take set one, 25-22.
 
The Highlanders grabbed the lead in the second set, battling back and forth for points before Ramapo took a 20-16 lead, the largest margin of the frame. Back-to-back kills by Joe Poirier put the Highlanders back within striking distance of a lead, 21-21. Ramapo pushed through to take set two by the same score, 25-22.
 
Once again, Cairn got out with momentum, this time on a 6-2 run to start before Ramapo tied things up at 8-8. Sam Poirier found open space with a pair of aces to grab the lead back, 11-9. As the Roadrunners got closer, Joe Poirier sent a spike over the net for a kill to maintain a 16-13 lead. Senior outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy) would manage a kill to tie things up following the Ramapo attack with the Highlanders moving to a 21-19 lead coming down to the wire. Ramapo took the lead back before Sam Poirier recorded a pair of kills to tie the game. Ramapo found space on the Highlanders' side to score the final pair of points, taking the final set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
 
Joe Poirier picked up 7 kills with a block and an ace while Sam Poirier and Ruiz-Esparza each had 5 kills, Ruiz-Esparza attacking at .417%.
 
The Highlanders match up with Elizabethtown College next on Thursday at 8 p.m. on the road before returning home to take on Eastern University a week later.