LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Women's Volleyball competed in a tri-match Saturday, hosting Washington College (MD) and Centenary University, splitting the day to move to 5-1.
GAME ONE
The Highlander's started with a tightly contested game against Washington College (4-4), falling 3-0 for their first loss of the season. Cairn had to adjust with the pace of play from the Shorewomen to start their first set, but earned points beginning with their destructive blockers, senior opposite
Hendryl Peabody (Bensalem, PA / Faith Baptist Christian), sophomore middle blocker
Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent), and sophomore middle blocker
Madison Delp (York, PA / Clarks Summit). That trio, along with sophomore outside hitter
Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) secured two blocks in the frame before senior outside hitter
Caroline Conrad (Bangkok, Thailand / International Community School) with three kills attempting to keep Washington College from getting on a run. Peabody, Dahn, and Thorpe scattered a kill apiece to get the Highlanders to 17 points as Washington College took the set, 25-17.
Entering into the second set, Peabody set the pace with two kills out of the gate, assisted by fifth-year setter
Olivia Zepp (Westminster, PA / Francis Scott Key). Following Peabody's lead, Thorpe slammed down yet another kill to earn the serve back. Keeping the Shorewomen in close proximity, kills from Dahn, Conrad, and a big block by Conrad and freshman middle blocker
Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian) secured a 8-6 lead for Cairn. Staying neck and neck with Washington, Cairn laid down kill after kill and back-to-back solo blocks from Shackelford to regain a narrow lead, 17-16. Trading points, the Shorewomen would just beat out the Cairn attack 27-25 heading to the third set.
The third set opened with two kills by Dahn spaced out by aces from junior libero
Payton Cline (Falling Waters, WV / Heritage Academy) with the first of four service aces ahead of freshman defensive specialist
Liliana Magazzu (Reading, PA / Exeter) keeping Cairn in the lead. Thorpe and Conrad powered away kills, two for the former, before Washington College ran ahead 9-7. Peabody & Shackelford teamed up for a block to get the serve back with Conrad earning an ace to take the lead. As the Shorewomen climbed back, Peabody added two kills ahead of a run by the opponent to stretch the lead to 22-12. The Highlanders would not go down easy, scoring nine-straight points by way of four kills by Conrad to cut the lead to one. Washington College would have a final push across the finish line ending the set, 25-21, to hand Cairn their first loss of the season.
Conrad finished with a game-high 14 kills along with three blocks and eleven kills for 16 points. Peabody & Dahn each had 8 kills and 9.5 points, Peabody and Thorpe each with three block assists and Dahn leading the team with 21 digs.
GAME TWO
After a brief rest, the Highlanders were back on the court against former conference foe Centenary University (2-9). In the first set, senior outside hitter
Caroline Conrad (Bangkok, Thailand / International Community School) collected her 1,000th career dig, the fifth and latest Highlander to reach that mark. Her teammates crashed the court celebrating her landmark achievement in excitement. The Highlander's well-rounded lineup finished this set with twelve kills from the group of Dahn, Peabody, Thorpe, and Shackelford. Adding to the excitement, Conrad proceeded to earn three kills and a devastating ace in the set to help take the first set in favor of the Highlanders, 25-20.
Set two started off strong with yet another kill from Dahn which was immediately followed with an ace Cline. Skackelford slammed two kills in a row to put Cairn ahead 9-4 and then gained the lead back with her third kill of the frame after Centenary tied the score at nine all. Later, with the Cyclones looking to grab some momentum, Thorpe sent three kills flying over the top, separated by a block by her and Conrad. Conrad got the serve with Cairn ahead 23-20. Shackelford sent a kill over the net as Conrad finished the deal with two aces to win the set, 25-20.
In the third, Cairn continued where they left off, running ahead to an 8-2 lead. With Centenary trying to cut into the lead, Peabody and Shackelford took turns on the attack along with an ace from Conrad to energize the crowd and get ahead by seven. Thorpe sent back a solo block to get the Highlanders to the 20-point threshold. Cairn's defense left Centenary's offense exhausted with another Shackelford's block bringing Cairn to a 24-20 lead, where Conrad ended the match with an ace, winning 25-20.
In game two, Conrad led the team in three categories, Conrad had 10 kills and 5 aces, 20 digs, including her 1,000th career dig, a pair of blocks. Peabody also had 10 kills and 2 blocks. The duo in the middle of Thorpe and Shackelford each provided seven kills, a career-high for Shackelford, in addition to Thorpe's five total blocks. Zepp added thirty-two assists.
On the day, the Highlanders bounced back after dropping their morning match with Washington College and finding success against Centenary and moving to 5-1 on the season. In two matches, Conrad accumulated 24 kills, 31 digs, 6 aces, and 4 blocks. Thorpe's net defense garnished her 8 blocks on the day, including two solo denials.
Highlander's begin a homestand of Albright College for their next game on Tuesday, September 17 ahead of welcoming Lackawanna College on Thursday evening.
