CALDWELL, N.J. -- Senior Reese Sherwood (Salem, Ore.) collected a team-best eight kills and added 11 assists and five digs, soph Libero Amber Gallo (Toms River, N.J.) pulled 12 digs and soph setter Jordan Mack (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had a team-high 14 assists, but the Cougars volleyball squad dropped a CACC matchup with league-leading Jefferson, 3-0, at the Newman Center Saturday.

The Cougars came to play, matching the Rams (8-7, 5-0 CACC) and trailing by just 20-17 in the first set before the visitors scored five of the final six points to lead 1-0.

In the second set, Caldwell (1-10, 1-4) led 14-10 and 20-18 before a string of six Rams points of the next eight gave Jefferson two set points at 24-22. But a kill by junior RS Natalie Piper (Long Beach, Calif.), block by Sherwood and junior hitter Alexa McEwan (Beachwood, N.J.) and ace by Mack gave the Cougars their first set point. But Jefferson would go ahead with two straight points, then with the score tied again at 26 on a kill by McEwan, the Rams closed the set with two of their own for a 28-26 win and 2-0 lead.

Jefferson closed the Cougars out in the third to complete the 3-0 win.

Caldwell is back in action on Tuesday, hosting CACC rival Bloomfield at Newman Center beginning at 7 p.m.