LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Men's Volleyball held their home opener on Thursday evening with a faceoff with the Pride of Widener University as they were swept in straight sets.
 
Cairn's (0-3 / UNITED EAST) first set stayed point-by-point with multiple kills from sophomore outside hitter Sam Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / International Christian School Uijeongbu), sophomore outside Jesse Stuart (Chattanooga, TN / Chiang Rai International Christian School), junior right side hitter David Larbi (Bensalem, PA / Bensalem), and junior middle hitter Caleb Cabrera (Wallington, NJ / Wallington), tied up at 14-apiece. Letting up a service run, Widener (6-3 / MIDDLE ATLANTIC) gained a six point lead with Cabrera ending it with another kill as the Highlanders tried to gain momentum to reset, now down by five. With strong sets leading to assists from junior setter Josh Adler (Levittown, PA / Neshaminy), Poirier and Stuart continued to send off kills. The Pride pushed on to the finish, taking the set 19-25.
 
Starting in the second things remained close with Widener up 7-4 as the Pride went on to miss back-to-back serves to give Cairn the step up they needed to close the gap. As the set went on, the Pride put up a quick run to get ahead 15-10 but critical attack errors after the serve of freshman outside hitter Eddie Newman (Lock Haven, PA / Homeschool) cut the Widener lead to but the Pride got back on the attack, putting some more distance between them and the Highlanders, 22-17. Larbi made a kill in an attempt to redeem the set, but fell with the same score as the first, 19-25.
 
In entrance to the last set, Poirier and Larbi delivered kills, along with graduate outside hitter Noah Ruiz Esparza (Levittown, PA / Berean Academy), keeping it close to start. Poirier, following a strain of complications, earned the Highlanders six points with back-to-back kills but weren't enough to overcome the Pride. The match concluded at 17-25.
 
Poirier attacked efficiently, collecting 13 kills on .429% hitting. Larbi added five kills with a solo block and block assist.
 
Cairn Men's Volleyball will be on the road for the third time this season at Bryn Athyn on Tuesday night for a non-conference match with the Lions before taking them on again in conference play later in the season.