JERSEY CITY, NJ – Women's Volleyball took New Jersey City University to five sets on the road, falling 15-9 in the final set after a close battle.
 
 Early kills from freshman outside hitter Marah Lehman (Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg) would set the Highlanders in the lead to start, as junior outside hitter Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD / Heritage Academy) and junior opposite Audrey Elisondo (Bethesda, MD / James I. O'Neill) helped extend the lead to 20-12. Three kills in-a-row by Dahn would clinch the set, 25-14.
 
Jersey City (4-0) went running in response, starting the second frame as they stretch to an 8-3 lead. Lehman, Dahn, and freshman opposite Bella Manthe (Manila, Philippines / Faith Academy) added a kill to cut the lead to three. Manthe and junior setter Anna Dow (Syracuse, NY / Faith Heritage) defended the net at a crucial time with blocks to tie the set 10-10. The squads traded points back and forth until the Gothic Knights ran for five-straight points, taking a 22-18 lead. A last effort on two blocks by sophomore middle Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian), the former assisted by Lehman) would put Cairn (3-2) back in striking distance before NJCU took the set 25-22.
 
The Gothic Knights had control out of the gate in set three before Elisondo took the serve and rallied back to a 8-7 lead on two aces. NJCU would struggle to attack, keeping the Highlanders in control 16-10 as Shackelford and sophomore outside hitter Emma Dekker (Rotterdam, Netherlands / International Community School) teamed up on a block. Lehman won the set with two kills, 25-19.
 
NJCU had a good start to the fourth, opening up 6-2 as Cairn rallied behind Lehman's serve with two kills from Dahn, one by Dekker, and a block by Dahn/Shackelford taking the lead back 7-6. Jersey City responded right back with seven-straight points to go up 14-8 as they pushed the pace to 20-12. As their momentum ran out, Cairn came back to make the score 20-17 before the Gothic Knights hammered home two late kills and a block to force a fifth set, 25-18.
 
A 5-1 run for Jersey City set the tone for the decisive fifth set as Lehman and Elisondo closed the gap to 8-7. The Gothic Knights ran right back on an ace and two kills to 13-8, sealing the match win with an ace, 15-9.
 
In an incredibly close game, Lehman and Dahn led the Highlander offense with 14 kills apiece, a career-high for Dahn, while Lehman scooped up a game-high 20 digs. Shackelford had four total blocks, a game-high as she continued to defend the net effectively.
 
Cairn will be back at home on Tuesday taking on Penn St. Berks at 7 p.m.