LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Women's Volleyball fell at the hands of John Jay College on Thursday night in three sets as the Highlanders ended their homestand to open the season.
 
Cairn (3-1) opened on a 7-1 run with two early kills by junior middle Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent). Following a Bloodhound response, junior outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) swung for two kills and sent back a block assist with Thorpe to keep the Highlanders up by seven. John Jay (2-1) went running to cut the lead to three before a Highlander run with two kills from freshman setter Bella Manthe (Manila, Philippines / Faith Academy) to make the score 22-14. Two aces put John Jay within striking distance as Thorpe and Dahn each added another kill in the frame before the Bloodhounds ended the set on seven unanswered points (with three aces) to win the set 26-24.
 
The Highlanders found themselves trailing entering the second set as freshman outside hitter Marah Lehman (Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg) helped tie the score with three kills in the opening points. As sophomore middle Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian) recorded two kills, John Jay capitalized on an 8-1 run to near closer to clinching the set. Manthe had another kill as the Highlanders searched for a spark to their rally, dropping the second set, 25-22.
 
Things looked promising to start the third as Lehman and Thorpe had kills to open on four-straight Highlander points and holding onto the lead through the majority of the set. John Jay took over with five-straight points at 21-19 before Cairn quickly answered on a kill from junior setter Anna Dow (Syracuse, NY / Faith Heritage) and ace from the serve of Manthe to bring the lead back to their side, 22-21. A 6-3 run at the end would seal the game for the Bloodhounds, 27-25, as Cairn dropped their first match of the young season.
 
Lehman led the Cairn offense with nine kills and an ace as Dahn, Thorpe, and Manthe added five kills apiece.
 
Cairn hits the road up to Jersey City to take on the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match.