LANGHORNE, Pa. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Cairn University sided out when it needed to and used that edge to defeat the New Jersey City University women's volleyball team in three sets, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22) on September 6.
 
Cairn (2-3) sided out at a 58 percent clip for the match (36-62)—the Gothic Knights at only 47 percent (35-74)—and served nine aces in the tight win. NJCU fell to 1-2 with the loss.
 
Senior outside hitter Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) registered her fifth career double-double in the loss, posting 10 kills (.118, 10-6-34) and 11 digs. Junior opposite Pamela Florimon (Teaneck, NJ/Memorial) had nine kills and two blocks. Freshman Madeline Lopez (Elizabeth, NJ/Hudson Catholic) defended a match-high 14 digs while senior Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) added 11 digs and eight assists. Senior setter Shaylah Ware (Newark, NJ/Science Park) chipped in 10 assists.
 
For Cairn, sophomore Lyntia Gwess (Wichita, Kan.) put away 11 kills at a .300 percentage (11-2-30), adding 12 digs while junior setter Liz White (Somerset, N.J.) gave out 22 assists and nine digs. Senior Haley Sheehan (Quakertown, Pa.) finished with nine kills. Junior Brie Norton (Elizabethtown, Pa.) and sophomore Micaiah Randolph (Goshen, Ind.) defended 14 and 11 digs, respectively.    
 
Cairn jumped in front 11-4 in set one before five straight points, including two kills by O'Donnell, made it a two-point game (11-9). Up 18-14, Cairn scored the next three points on two kills and a block by Sheehan to pull away by eight points.
 
In set two, the Highlanders trailed 17-11 before ripping off an 8-0 run to claim a 19-17 advantage. NJCU committed seven errors during that stretch to aid the host team and freshman Allison Barnes (Macungie, Pa.) served a pair of aces. Still, NJCU had a chance, tying it at 22-22 on back-to-back kills by Michelle Sanchez (Newark, NJ/Arts) and Florimon, before an NJCU service error, a kill by Gwess, and an attack error, allowed the Highlanders to cap the set with the final three points.
 
NJCU hoped to extend the match but fell behind 15-9 in the third set, scoring four in a row in the middle of the set. The Knights would rally within 22-20, but came no closer and fell again, 25-22.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: Cairn leads, 4-0; first meeting since September 15, 2012.
• Amber O'Donnell (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) reached double figures in digs for the 31st time in her career.
• Georgina Rayo (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academic) had 10 or more digs for the 17th time in her career.

 
UP NEXT:
NJCU opens its home schedule and New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, September 11 (7 p.m.) when it hosts Ramapo College at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
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