LANCASTER, PA – Women's Volleyball dropped their first match in almost a month, taking one set from Lancaster Bible College on Thursday night, 3-1.
 
The Chargers hit their stride with a 10-2 run opening the match. Junior middle Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent) made her best efforts to keep the Highlanders in striking distance with three kills and a block (with freshman outside hitter Marah Lehman (Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg) with Cairn (11-3 / 2-1 UNITED EAST) down 16-10. Sophomore middle Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian) sent back a solo block immediately following Thorpe's third kill, cutting the lead to five. Lancaster Bible (7-9 / 2-1 UNITED EAST) kept their offense running from four aces in the closing points to win the set 25-15.
 
Lehman swung for three kills as the Highlanders took over the second frame by a score of 8-1. A run of five points brought Lancaster Bible back in the picture, down 8-6 until junior outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) nailed three kills amidst the Charger attack, keeping Cairn up 14-12. Shackelford swung for two kills after that, moving the lead up to six (21-15) before the Chargers threatened, knotting things up at twenty-three apiece. As the squads traded points at the finish, it would be Lehman to respond with the 26^th point to tie, junior setter Anna Dow (Syracuse, NY / Faith Heritage) with an ace to take the lead, and Shackelford with freshman opposite Bella Manthe (Manila, Philippines / Faith Academy) teaming up for a block to win the set, 28-26.
 
Lancaster Bible went running after the post-set regroup, opening ahead 12-4 as Cairn's momentum had stopped. Manthe tried to ignite a spark with two kills, but the Chargers pressed on with an insurmountable 25-10 lead, taking a 2-1 set lead. Cairn faced the same challenge to begin the fourth set, this time answering with kills from Shackelford, Manthe, and Thorpe, keeping the lead at seven. The Highlanders struggled to extinguish the Charger's hot pace, scattering kills by Dahn and Shackelford, but Lancaster Bible would rush again to the finish line, 25-12, winning the match 3-1 and snapping Cairn's 8-match win and sweep streak.
 
Lehman led with ten kills as Dahn and Manthe each had seven. Thorpe and Shackelford rounded out the offense with five and four kills, respectively, the latter with three blocks on the night. Sophomore libero Liliana Magazzu (Reading, PA / Exeter) scooped up a career-high 24 digs, tying the game-high.
 
The Highlanders will face the win-less Rosemont Ravens on Saturday in Langhorne, although Cairn will be the visiting team in the 11 a.m. match.