IMMACULATA, PA – Cairn Men's Volleyball was on the road for the second time this season at Immaculata on Tuesday night, dropping their non-conference match with the Mighty Macs in four sets.
 
Play was even out of the gate before the Mighty Macs went on a seven-point run to go ahead 11-5. Graduate outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy) got the comeback started with a kill as sophomore outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu) came up with four-straight kills to cut the lead to a point. Immaculata (3-1) powered on to the finish, taking the first set 25-19.
 
The Highlanders held the lead opening up the second set as Poirier had an early kill and ace. While Poirer continued to send volleys over the net for kills, the Mighty Macs went on a late run to secure the lead from Cairn (0-2) as sophomore outside hitter Jesse Stuart (Chattanooga, TN / Chiang Rai International Christian School) tallied two kills to pause the run and push the momentum back the Highlanders' way. After another kill from Poirier, Immaculata would outscore Cairn 6-2 late in the frame, clinching the second set 25-22, thanks to four aces.
 
Cairn showed resolve as junior middle hitter David Larbi (Bensalem, PA / Bensalem) got to work up the middle, giving the Highlanders a late lead as junior setter Josh Adler (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy) sent back a block. Poirier and Ruiz Esparza teamed up for three kills to extend their lead to seven as Immaculata tried to spoil the set with a late run. Larbi came up big, sending back a block to win the set 25-21.
 
As Immaculata took the early serve, the Mighty Macs surged ahead 10-7 on a run, holding onto the lead as freshman outside hitter Eddie Newman (Lock Haven, PA / Homeschool) fired off three kills. As the Highlanders secured the serve back, down 21-19, Larbi kept them alive with back-to-back kills as Poirier scored another ace, now ahead 23-22. The Mighty Macs went for four-straight points to win the match in the fourth set, 25-23.
 
Poirier led all scorers with career-highs in kills (20) and points (23) on .441% hitting while scoring two aces and a solo block. Larbi added four kills with four solo blocks for eight points as Adler had an even thirty assists with four kills and a block of his own.
 
The Highlanders will host Widener on Thursday for their home opener, kicking off at 7 p.m.