The Lancaster Bible men's volleyball team nearly made history on Saturday as the Chargers had Cairn on the ropes and almost defeated the Highlanders for the first time in program history, but the host Highlanders rallied and dealt Lancaster Bible a 3-2 loss in five sets. The loss drops the Chargers to 1-3 this season, while Cairn improves to 2-0. 

How it Happened: The first set went back-and-forth until the Chargers finally took a 20-15 lead late in the set. Cairn eventually cut its deficit to 24-23, but Nick Eberly's kill gave the Chargers the set and a 1-0 lead. The Highlanders responded quickly and took the second set, 25-15, but Lancaster Bible wasn't finished yet and jumped out to a 10-4 advantage in the third set.

Lancaster Bible maintained its lead throughout the set, but Cairn began to cut its deficit and eventually trailed 17-15 after an ace from Micah Godshall. Lancaster Bible fought back and used a kill from Caleb Strite and a Cairn error to build a 21-18 lead. The Highlanders came right back and won the next four points, but the Chargers did not wilt and won four of the set's final five points to take a 2-1 lead. An ace from Strite sealed the third set after Lancaster Bible had used to Highlanders' errors to earn a set point.

The fourth set looked a lot like the first as the teams exchanged points for much of the set. Cairn held leads of 22-21, 23-22 and 24-23 and finally won the fourth set on a kill from Godshall. 

Lancaster Bible took a 6-5 lead early in the deciding set, but Cairn won the next three points to take an 8-6 lead as the teams changed sides. The Chargers kept it close and used an error from Cairn to cut the deficit to 12-10, but the Highlanders were too strong down the stretch and won the fifth set, 15-10.

By the Numbers: Nick Eberly led the Chargers with nine kills...Freshman Daniel Kreider added eight kills and tied for the team lead with four blocks...Caleb Strite also had eight kills to go with his three aces and four blocks...Joshua Rotz had seven kills and 10 digs, while Nicholas Wesley had a team-high 11 digs...Freshman Garyd Martin had a career-high 37 assists.

Extra! Extra!: Lancaster Bible now owns an 0-21 record all-time against Cairn...The Chargers will have a chance to crack the win column against the Highlanders when the teams meet in March in Lancaster...Saturday was Lancaster Bible's first five-set match since last February 7 when the Chargers lost to Bluefield State, 3-2.

Up Next: Lancaster Bible is off until Wednesday, February 10 when the Chargers will host Wilson (3 p.m.) and Eastern Mennonite (7 p.m.) at Horst Athletic Center.