LANGHORNE, Pa.  - The Immaculata University men's volleyball team was unable to overcome an early deficit to Cairn Friday night in Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) action, dropping a straight sets decision on the road to the Highlanders. Garrett Pepper and Bryce Wiltbank combined for 11 kills on the night, Kevin Hegarty posted a pair of blocks and Donte Ramos registered 12 assists for the Mighty Macs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs held an early first set lead at 8-7 with kills from Pepper and Patrick Zeoli, but an ensuing 7-1 Cairn run put the hosts up seven in the middle stages of the set. IU battled back to get within five on a Matthew Lynn service ace, but Cairn won four of the last five points to take the opener, 25-17.
-Immaculata fell behind early in the second set as the Highlanders earned 11 of the set's first 15 points and were unable to overcome the deficit despite a pair of Pepper kills and one each from Wiltbank and Zeoli, dropping the second 25-14.
-Trailing 19-9 in the third set, the Macs mounted a comeback with a 4-1 run in the middle stages on the strength of a Pepper kill and a Wiltbank ace. However, Cairn controlled six of the final nine points of the set to secure the victory with a 25-15, third-set win.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Kills: Pepper 7, Wiltbank 4, Zeoli 2
-Aces: Lynn/Wiltbank
-Blocks: Hegarty 2, Lynn/Wiltbank
-Assists: Ramos 12, Zeoli
-Digs: Pepper 7, Wiltbank/Hegarty 4

UP NEXT
Immaculata concludes its inaugural season Saturday afternoon at Neumann at 1 p.m.