MORRISTOWN, NJ – The Cairn Men's Volleyball team picked up their second straight conference win on Saturday, defeating the Eagles of Saint Elizabeth University, 3-1, on the road.
 
As the offenses went back-and-forth in the opening set, Cairn (3-12 / 2-0) got ahead 9-6 on a trio of kills from senior opposite hitter Joe Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu), freshman outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) and senior outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy). The Eagled answered back to take a 10-9 lead. The Highlanders would find themselves ahead heading to the later points, putting away the first set with two kills by J. Poirier.
 
Saint Elizabeth (7-13 / 1-1) held the advantage early in the second frame, getting ahead 10-6. The Highlanders ran around a pair of kills from junior middle hitter Tommy Ragonese (Buffalo, NY / Royalton-Hartland High School), bringing the deficit to a single point, 16-15. The Eagles pulled away, taking the second set 25-19 and tying things up.
 
Cairn came out of the break with momentum to answer back, going on an 8-2 run out of the gate with kills from graduate middle hitter Jake Tolar (Fort Mill, SC / Nation Ford) and Ruiz Esparza, Tolar adding an ace as well. With the Highlanders in the driver seat, they were able to withstand the Eagles' attack, striking back to stay ahead with another Tolar ace and pair of kills by J. Poirier. Poirier added two more late with an ace dropped in by Ruiz Esparza as Cairn took set three, 25-21.
 
The Highlanders got off to a quick lead in the fourth before Saint Elizabeth tied things up 9-9. Tolar sent a kill over the net to take the lead back. S. Poirier found space on the other side for two kills, interrupted by an ace from Ragonese as the Highlanders ran ahead, 19-16. With the game in the balance, sophomore setter Josh Adler (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy High School) assisted Tolar twice, Ruiz Esparza, and J. Poirier on kills to take the victory in the fourth set, 25-22.
 
J. Poirier paced the offense with 14 kills, followed by Tolar & S. Poirier, a career-high for Tolar. Ruiz Esparza added 8 kills while Ragonese had 6 kills, both with an ace. Adler totaled 38 assists on the day.
 
The Highlanders look forward to their rematch with Valley Forge on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. from the Mason Activity Center.