CHESTER, PA – Cairn Men's Volleyball rematched with Widener on Tuesday as the Highlanders were swept 3-0.
 
As the Highlanders secured an early 5-2 lead, Widener (8-4 / MIDDLE ATLANTIC) sprung right back to tie the set and go on a moderate run to get ahead 14-11. Cairn (0-4 / UNITED EAST) struggled to defend the serve, allowing the Pride to roar ahead 20-14. A late run with kills by junior setter Josh Adler (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy) and sophomore outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) to cut the Widener lead to two. Widener got the kills they needed and took the set 25-21.
 
The Pride had a commanding lead off the jump for the second set, running ahead 11-6. Widener would land aces to continue their run at 16-9 with seven straight points coming next to cement them ahead 23-10. A late effort for the Highlanders wouldn't be enough to overcome the deficit, 25-14, as Cairn looked to change the tone in the third set.
 
Widener would have their way to open the third set as they worked their way ahead 9-3. Junior middle hitter David Larbi (Bensalem, PA / Bensalem) landed two aces to try to gain some momentum, cutting the lead to three as the Pride went running ahead to 16-8 as Cairn searched for an answer. Errors by the Pride would give Cairn the serve with graduate outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy) scoring three-straight aces. Poirier fired over four kills in a late effort but it wouldn't be enough as Widener took the set 25-22 and the sweep of the match.
 
Poirer led all scorers with a match-high 12 kills and 12 points with six digs. Larbi finished with nine points on six kills and a pair of aces while Ruiz Esparza had three aces.
 
The Highlanders will host Lancaster Bible on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. start.