CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Queens University of Charlotte's volleyball team (20-10) fought tooth and nail, but were ultimately unable to upset Lees-McRae College (24-7), as they fell 3-0 in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament Friday night at Banner Elk.

Falling 21-25, 21-25, and 22-25, the Royals put together a tenacious defensive performance, holding the Bobcats to a .080 hitting percentage. However, Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Whitney Justice was a rare exception, as she led the Bobcat attack with nine kills, recording a .421 hitting percentage.

Keri Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Lake Mary) paced the Royals with eight kills, while Brittney Barren (Ham Lake, Minn., Blaine), Brittany Harvey (Matthews, N.C., Sun Valley ), and Anna Gibbs (Hickory, N.C., Hickory) tallied six, five, and five kills respectively.

Avery Moore (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) chipped in 21 assists, while Barren posted a team-high nine digs. Moore, Alexa Sparrell (Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park), Jocelyn Kellinger (Roanoke, Va., Cave Spring), and Sarah Malpass (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesville) each tallied eight digs.

Lees-McRae opened the first set with a 5-1 run, including Megan Epperson's 1,000th career kill, before the Royals responded with a 7-2 spurt to take an 8-7 lead on back-to-back service aces by Barren. The Bobcats would answer with an 8-3 run of their own, taking a 15-11 lead on a kill from Justice before Queens evened the score at 16-16 with a 5-1 spurt. Lees-McRae quickly regained control, taking a 22-19 lead on the heels of a 6-3 run before closing out the 25-21 first-set win on a Queens miscue.

The Bobcats would carry the momentum into the second set, opening the frame with a 9-1 run before the Royals could answer, rallying to cut the margin to 9-5 with a quick 4-0 spurt. Queens continued to press the attack, cutting the lead to 14-11 on a kill by Barren. Lees-McRae would answer, stretching the margin to 18-11 with a 4-0 spurt before Queens responded, going on a 5-0 run of its own to trim the advantage to 18-16.

Lees-McRae refused to cede control, pushing the lead to 24-20 with a 6-4 spurt before Clendenin knocked in a kill to cap a 25-21 second set win, and give the Bobcats a commanding 2-0 lead in the match. Queens would answer in the third frame, opening the set with a 4-0 run before Lees-McRae responded with a 5-1 spurt of its own, taking an early 6-5 advantage on a kill by Epperson.

The two teams would battle throughout much of the remaining portion of the set, with neither side gaining more than a two-point advantage until, with the score standing at 19-18 in favor of LMC, the Bobcats launched a 3-0 spurt to take a 22-18 lead on back-to-back service aces from Casas.

Queens would rally, answering with a 4-0 spurt of its own to even the score at 22-22 on three-straight kills from Ashlyn Dibrell (Arlington, Texas, Lamar). Lees-McRae refused to cede momentum, answering with a 3-0 spurt to claim the set and the match on a kill by Clendenin.

While the Bobcats advance to the championship game against Erskine College on Sunday, the Royals' season comes to an end.

Despite the end of a great season, Royals head coach Angela McGuire was proud of her team's effort.

“Tonight's loss in certainly very difficult for everyone, but in no way can these girls hang their heads about the season we had,” said McGuire. “I am so proud of the culture we have created within our program, and it has been the opportunity of a lifetime to coach these girls this season.

“The successes we've had this season are a true testament to how hard they have worked and I'm excited to continue building this program with each and every one of them.”