Reading, Pa. (Mar. 21, 2017) - Alvernia University (10-9, 1-5) earned its first conference win with a 3-1 decision over Cairn University (3-21, 0-7) Tuesday evening in Continental Volleyball Conference action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Alvernia earned a convincing 25-13 win in the opening set, had a strong close in the second set for a 25-21 win, then finished the match with a 25-16 win in the third set.

Brendan Shovlin and Myles Thomas led the way for the home team with six kills apiece, Anthony Dadson racked up six blocks, Justin Gibbs had 22 assists, and Austin Rush had a team-best seven digs.  Andy Willits had a match-high 10 kills for the Highlanders.

Cairn had a 9-7 lead in the first set before the Crusaders got a side out and followed with six more points on the serve of Mitchell Sterkenburg, who started his rotation with back-to-back service aces.  Alvernia kept a comfortable lead the rest of the way with graduate student Evan Bulcavage serving out the last four points of the match.

Cairn jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set and led 19-17 late in the set before the Alvernia comeback.  Thomas hammered down a kill for a side out then Sterkenburg served three straight points prompting a Highlander timeout with Alvernia leading 21-19.  The teams traded side outs and Alvernia closed the set winning four of the last five points.

Alvernia built a 13-10 lead in the third set with Dadson and Justin Wintle combining on back-to-back blocks.  It kept the lead at a comfortable distance the rest of the way with Sterkenburg and Wintle teaming up for a block on the final play of the game.

Alvernia continues the conference schedule at Eastern Mennonite University on Friday.

Alvernia 3, Cairn 0