LANGHORNE, PA—The Highlanders hosted the Nittany Lions of Penn State Abington in a United East matchup. Cairn took the 3-0 win after a dominant third set. 

 The first set started out close as neither team was willing to give up a lead. As Cairn (15-5, 6-3 United East) and Penn State Abington (13-7, 5-3 United east) battled it out as the score stays close, 7-7. Until freshmen outside hitter Marah Lehman (Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg) took control and gave Cairn a small 14-12 lead, but she didn't stop there, getting 2 aces to extend their lead more.  Freshman opposite Bella Manthe (Manila, Philippines Faith Academy) and junior setter Anna Dow (Syracuse, NY / Faith Heritage School) started a rally for Cairn, where the Highlanders would go on to make the score 22-14. Junior outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD Heritage Academy) got a kill to get Cairn closer to closing the set, Lehman called the set with a kill, assist from Dow. 

 The second set started out heavily in Abington's favor as they stormed to a 6-1 lead. The Highlanders would fight back as Lehman would team up with Dow to get Cairn to a 10-7 lead. The Nittany Lions would gain their footing and go on a 6-0 run to regain the lead, but Lehman and Manthe turned up the heat to regain the momentum and get a combined 4 points as Cairn took a 19-16 lead. Junior middle blocker Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA William Tennent) and sophomore libero Liliana Magazzu (Reading, PA Exeter Township) would inch Cairn closer to ending the set with the next two kills. Cairn would claim set 2 after two forced Nittany Lion's errors, 25-19. 

 The third set was all Cairn as they surged to a 12-2 lead as Dow had 6 assists, and Lehman got five kills and assisted her teammate Dahn. Abington only managed to get one point before Cairn was at it again, sophomore middle blocker Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian School) started another rally with a kill from Dow's assist where Cairn gained a 20-4 lead. Lehman led Cairn within eyesight of the game with 2 more kills before Dahn called set 25-6 and game 3-0. 

 The Cairn University Highlanders have clinched their playoff ticket for the 5th straight season, with a record of 6-2, they currently are in 5th place. 

 Lehman led the team in kills with 22, passing the previous program record of 19 that she tied earlier this season, while Magazzu led in aces (4) and digs (22). Dow topped the team in assists with 38 while Shackleford got the most blocks with 2. 

 The Highlanders will travel to Allentown, Pa for their next match up against the Cedar Crest Falcons on October 28th at 7pm.