CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens volleyball (9-5 CC, 15-7) battled until the end, but Lees-McRae (13-0, 16-6) was able to outlast the Royals in five sets to avoid their first Conference Carolinas loss of the season.

Going the distance for just the second time this season, the Royals gave the Bobcats all they could handle.

Coming out of the gate strong, the Royals jumped out to a 17-13 lead in the first set and never looked back. Avery Moore (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) had the offense running full throttle, tallying 10 of her 41 assists while Keri Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Lake Mary) led all players with five kills on seven attempts en route to a 25-18 win in the first set.

Lees-McRae flipped the roles in the second set. With the Royals rallying to a 17-21 deficit, the Bobcats were able to come up with a stop and put the ball in two-time Conference Player of the Week Whitney Justice's hands. Despite a rowdy crowd, Justice was able to serve out the remaining three points to take the second set, 25-17.

The third set was a back-and-forth affair that seen the Royals rally late in the game again. Down 19-23, Queens subbed in Ashlyn Dibrell (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) to provide a spark from behind the line. She would do just that, serving four straight points to tie the game at 23. With the game getting away from them, Megan Mitchell was able to right the ship and assist on the final two points to win the set, 25-23, and take a 2-1 advantage into the fourth game.

The Royals got off to a quick lead and kept the cushion throughout the set. With several of Lees-McRae's attacks being spurned by a potent Royals defense, a frustrated Bobcats head coach Wes Schneider was carded at 20-16 during a Queens run. After the short delay, Alexa Sparrell (Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park) was able to continue the run and give the Royals a 23-16 before eventually taking the game 25-20 to force a deciding fifth set.

Despite the momentum, the Royals were unable to diffuse the Bobcats attack in the fifth set, as Justice served the visitors to a quick 8-4 lead they would not surrender. The deciding set featured several long, competitive volleys. In the end, the Royals couldn't make up the deficit and fell 15-9.

Kemp finished with a match-high 16 kills on 34 attempts for an impressive .412 hitting percentage while coming up with 17 digs for the double-double.

Moore posted a career-and match-high 41 assists along with six kills and seven digs.

Sparrell single-handedly matched Lees-McRae with five aces for Queens' conference best and 20th ranked DII serve attack.

Justice led the Bobcats with 15 kills on 35 attempts to hit an even .400 on the day. Megan Epperson tallied nine kills with two aces while Mitchell racked up 38 assists.

The Royals have eight days before their next match when they host Pfeiffer (7-5, 7-12) on Wednesday, October 27th at 6:30 p.m.