Men’s Volleyball: Highlanders Steamroll past Saint Elizabeth in CSAC Semifinals, Will Face Top-Seeded LBC in Conference Championship Match
Story Shared Courtesty of Cairn University Athletics - Story from cairnhighlanders.com
LANGHORNE, Pa. – The No. 2 seed Cairn University men's volleyball team steamrolled to their sixth-straight victory via a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-21) sweep at home over No. 3 seed Saint Elizabeth University in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Semifinals inside the Mason Activity Center on Tuesday evening. With the win, Cairn advances to their third-straight conference championship match, where they will meet top-seeded preseason favorite Lancaster Bible College on Saturday night.
"All year we've emphasized fighting for every point." remarked Head Coach Matt Bruder.
"Whether we're up by 10 or down by 10, every single point matters. Tonight was a great example of closing out tight games, and overcoming deficits. We fought as a team, and that made the difference tonight."
"Saturday is going to be no different." added Bruder.
"In order to beat a team like LBC, we have to go out and give the same effort and focus on every point. If we can maintain a high level of intensity and clean play, we'll give them a good fight."
Cairn (13-8, 5-1 CSAC) held a 16-12 lead over Saint Elizabeth (12-8, 4-2 CSAC) in set one, before the Highlanders took firm command of the frame with a six-point serving run by junior Will Nase (Harleysville, PA / Souderton), including two aces in the run. The Eagles responded well in set two, taking a 12-7 lead at the onset. Saint Elizabeth maintained its advantage for nearly the entirety of the frame, and were knocking on the door of tying the match late in the set (22-19). The Highlanders then sparked a huge comeback, another six-point run highlighted by three kills by senior Joshua Hoagland (Chiang Rai, Thailand / Chiang Rai International Christian) to steal the set from the Eagles and take a 2-0 match lead. SEU made a formidable effort in the final stanza, leading 17-15 at the midway point. However, the Highlanders once again reclaimed momentum, this time via a five-point run to re-take the lead (20-17). Cairn held its three-point lead till the end of the frame (24-21), before one final kill by Hoagland finished off the sweep and sent Cairn back to the conference championship match.
Cairn was led offensively by freshman Moses Gamble (Rocklin, CA / Rocklin) who posted a match-high 12 kills to pair with seven digs. Hoagland followed with nine kills, including no errors at a .692 hitting percentage, while Nase and junior Joe Poirier (Nogyang, South Korea / Holden Christian Academy) each contributed seven kills. Senior Shea Scott (Harleysville, PA / Souderton) handed out a match-high 33 assists, while classmate Josh Moyer (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown Community) scooped up a team-high 10 digs.
As mentioned, the Highlanders advance to the CSAC Championship match on Saturday evening, and will travel to Lancaster to take on top-seeded, preseason favorite Lancaster Bible College (20-10, 6-0 CSAC) with a spot in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament on the line at 6 p.m.