Men’s Volleyball Defeats Cairn, 3-0

LANGHORNE, Pa.- The Juniata men's volleyball team played its second conference match in as many days on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles rebounded well after losing to Rutgers-Newark last night with a 3-0 victory (25-15, 25-21, 25-22) over Cairn. The win evens the Eagles record at 7-7 overall and 3-3 in the Continental Volleyball Conference.

Juniata attacked at a consistent rate as it hit .333 overall. Mahlon Bender (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) had a team-best .667 hit percentage with Kyle Seeley (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) (.480) right behind him.

Seeley led JC with 16 kills on the afternoon. Quinn Looper (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) picked up 27 assists. Chris Heron (Las Vegas, Nev./Arbor View) tallied three service aces. Brendan Smith (Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay Varina) had 14 digs.

JC had a commanding lead in the first set as it turned an 8-3 lead into a 14-4 advantage. The Highlanders were able to get to 16-9 but Juniata finish the set on a 9-6 run to go up 1-0 in the match.

Cairn responded in the second set as it led 9-6.  The Eagles pushed back with a 4-0 run to go up 10-9. After the Highlanders retook the lead and went up 12-11, JC answered with a 4-0 run to leap ahead 15-12. An 8-3 Highlander run put the home team up 20-18. Juniata ended the set on a 7-1 run that included the last five points of the frame to claim the set.

The Highlanders scored the first four points in the third set to go up 4-0. Juniata was able to come back and tie the set on three occasions. JC was behind as much as 19-16 but took the victory with a 9-3 run to end the stanza.

The Eagles travel to Owing Mills, Md. next Saturday for a rematch with Stevenson. The Mustangs defeated Juniata in their last meeting February 12 in Huntingdon, 3-0. Match time will be at 7:00 p.m.