Langhorne, PA - The Highlanders defend the Bucks and Montgomery Kickoff Classic Trophy with 3-0 win over Penn State Abington.
The first set started close with the Nittany Lions and the Highlanders exchanging points with neither team able to take control of the match. Penn State Abington (0-1 / 0-0 United East) rattled off 4 straight points to go ahead 16-11. Cairn (1-0 / 0-0 United East) went back and forth with the Nittany Lions until the score reached 19-15. Then the Highlanders took control, winning 8 consecutive points including 2 kills and a block assist by sophomore opposite
Bella Manthe (Manila, Philippines Faith Academy). Another kill by Manthe followed up by a kill by junior Middle Blocker
Maddie Shackelford (Warrington, PA / Plumstead Christian School) gave Cairn a 1-0 lead in the match.
In the second set 2 quick kills by sophomore outside hitter
Marah Lehman (Chambersburg, PA / Chambersburg) gave the Highlanders an early lead, but Penn State Abington battled back to keep the game close. With the score at 9-11 the Highlanders went on another run, this time they rattled off 5 consecutive points fueled by 4 more kills by Lehman. Junior Libero
Liliana Magazzu (Reading, PA / Exeter Township) kept the momentum going with back-to-back aces to extend the Highlander lead. The Nittany Lions closed the gap getting within 2 points of Cairn, but the Highlanders responded with another hot streak by winning 4 straight points, capped off by 2 more kills by Lehman. 1 Kill each from Shackelford and senior middle blocker
Georgianna Thorpe (Southampton, PA / William Tennent) closed out the set to put Cairn up 2-0.
Set 3 saw the Highlanders jump out in front early with 2 aces by Manthe and a kill by senior outside hitter
Bridget Dahn (Smithsburg, MD Heritage Academy). More strong offensive play including another pair of aces by Magazzu allowed Cairn to go up 12-5. The Nittany Lions responded with a 5-point run to get back in the set, but Cairn maintained control, and did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the match. Manthe went to the service line with Cairn sitting at 24 points and ended the match with an ace to give the Highlanders their first win of the season.
Cairn returns to action with another home game on Thursday September 3rd at 7 PM when they host the Aggies of Delaware Valley.
