Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Lancaster Bible College women's volleyball team hosted the NCCAA East Region Playoffs for the second time in three years on Friday, however, unlike 2010, things did not go as planned.

Cairn University overcame a 1-0 deficit to take the final three sets in the East Region Final, downing the Chargers to win their second straight East Region title. The Highlanders won, 17-25, 25-15, 25-14, 27-25.

Earlier in the day, the Chargers defeated Valley Forge Christian, 3-0 in the East Region Semi-Finals, while the Highlanders overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Baptist Bible, 3-2 in the other semi-final.

in the East Region Final, the Chargers took advantage of Cairn's fatigue in the first set and won, 25-17. LBC led from beginning to end in the set and had 15 kills to just six errors. Things changed quickly in the second set however, as the Chargers began committing errors and with each mistake, the Highlanders began to gain momentum and get their second wind.

"They seemed to gain more confidence and seem less tired early in the second set and our sloppiness did not help our cause at all," Chargers' Head Coach Lauren Bewley said. 

After a .243 hitting percentage in the opening set, LBC had just eight kills, but 10 errors in the second for a -.059 hitting percentage. 

The problems continued in the third set as LBC had nine more errors, while Cairn committed just one. Each point won energized the Highlanders, while the Chargers' frustration grew and grew. 

LBC (16-18) rebounded in the fourth set and held an early lead before the Highlanders tied the set at 15-15. The set went back-and-forth before LBC got some separation and held a 24-22 lead. Cairn would not quit though and won the next two points to tie the game at 24-24. LBC got the next point on a kill by Katie Coomber, but Cairn won the next two points to take a 26-25 lead. Brigid Shehan's ninth and final kill sealed the win for the Highlanders on the next point.

The East Region Championship is Cairn's sixth in the last seven seasons.

"It's a tough loss and obviously not what we hoped for," Bewley said. "We fought hard, but we keep making the same mistakes and they hurt us tonight. I thought both teams played great volleyball in the fourth set however, we just didn't have enough."

The loss does not end the Chargers' season as they are the fourth seed in next weekend's NEAC Playoffs. LBC will face fifth-seeded SUNYIT in the Quarter-Finals on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Bewley is excited to see how the Chargers will respond this week at practice.

"Sport shows your weaknesses and it will be interesting to see what we do this week with those weaknesses that were exposed tonight," Bewley said. "We have to make adjustments on the court and off the court and find out how we handle defeat. We need to grow as people as well as volleyball players."

In the East Region Final, Lauren Heliger lead LBC with 15 kills and 28 digs. Sophomore Lauren Daniels had a match-high 17 kills and added 13 digs, while freshman Joanna Butala had one kill, two blocks and 16 digs. The Chargers had 96 digs during the four set match, while Cairn had 85.

Notes:
-After the Chargers' two matches on Friday, Daniels is just one kill away from 400, while Heliger is just 11 digs from 600 for the season. 
-LBC finishes the season with a 7-5 home record. 
-Cairn will represent the East Region at the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla., Nov. 8-10.