LANGHORNE, PA – The No. 2 Cairn University Highlanders took on No. 3 seeded Wilson College at home in the United East Men's Volleyball Championship – Semifinal match, making quick work of the Phoenix, 3-0.
 
Cairn (7-13 / 6-1 UNITED EAST) took off with a 7-3 lead in the first, adding two more on a kill from junior middle hitter Tommy Ragonese (Buffalo, NY / Royalton-Hartland High School) and ace by senior outside hitter Joe Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) to go up 9-4. Wilson (8-15 / 3-4 UNITED EAST) came back on the attack, closing the gap to 14-11. Senior outside hitter Will Nase (Harleysville, PA / Souderton) sent three kills over the net to take the first set, 25-18.
 
The Highlanders went on a 10-2 run to open up the second set behind two kills from Nase and a kill each by graduate middle hitter Jake Tolar (Fort Mill, SC / Nation Ford), senior outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy), and freshman outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu). Wilson came right back, scoring four in a row making it 10-6. S. Poirier got the Highlanders back swinging again on offense as they quickly went up 16-7 and continued on to 22-14. Poirier put it away with the final kill for the 25-15 set two win.
 
Cairn carried their momentum into the third set, going up 4-3 and 7-5. Sophomore settler Josh Adler (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy) had a kill and ace to go ahead 15-10 and got the Highlanders running ahead 20-12 with another kill from S. Poirier and ace by Nase. The Poirier brothers each added another kill, keeping Cairn in the driver's seat. Nase put the Highlanders' playoff win away, 25-19.
 
Nase led the charge with 11 kills for 14 points and two block assists. S. Poirier had 9 kills and J. Poirier had 6 along with Tolar, Tolar totaling 5 block assists.
 
The Highlanders will matchup with the No. 1 Lancaster Bible College Chargers in Lancaster, PA on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the 2024 United East Men's Volleyball Championship, making their fourth straight conference championship appearance.