(LANGHORNE, Pa.) – The season came to a close as Wilson fell to Cairn in the semifinals of the United East Championship on Tuesday evening. The third-seeded Phoenix were looking for the upset bid of the No. 2 Highlanders after taking them to five sets last week, but it was not in the cards as the hosts secured a spot in Saturday's final with a sweep of the Blue and White.
The Basics
Scores: Wilson 0, Cairn 3 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19)
Venue: Mason Activity Center
Records: Wilson 8-15, Cairn 7-13
How It Happened
- Ryan Koontz (FY, York Haven, Pa. / Red Land) had a strong start to the contest as he had three early kills to keep Wilson within reach of Cairn. The momentum tide started to slowly turn in favor of the Highlanders, however, as an 6-2 run put them in front 17-11. Kills from Koontz and Demetrius Simmons (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) allowed the Phoenix to close the gap to four at 19-15, but that was the closest the Phoenix would get as Cairn took a 1-0 lead.
- Cairn surged out to a 10-2 run to open the second game. Wilson was about to counter with the next four points with a pair of kills from Jacob McCoy (So., York, Pa. / Spring Grove) and a block by McCoy and Saria Alshaikhali (Sr., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Mechanicsburg), but the Highlanders answered with the next four points for a 14-6 lead. Cairn didn't let loose on the reigns and took the second set by 10 points.
- A Vincent Natale (So., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore) ace, an Alshaikhali kill, and a Simmons kill helped Wilson go out to an early third set lead before a 6-2 run by the Highlanders gave the hosts the high ground once again. A 9-2 run then left Cairn up 20-12. The Phoenix could only get the deficit down to five before Cairn closed the set.
Inside The Numbers
- Koontz finished the evening with 11 kills, tying Cairn's Will Nase for co-game high honors. McCoy was just behind him with nine.
- Koontz also led the team defensively with seven digs. Alshaikhali added five.
- Setting up the attack was Natale who totaled 26 assists.
