CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens Volleyball started conference play with a sweep over Mount Olive College Tuesday evening at Ovens Athletic Center. The win is the Royals' first over the Trojans since 2001. With the victory, the Royals take a 1-0 (5-0) record into a first-place tie in the Conference Carolinas.

The Royals routinely got up early – leading to three consecutive 25-16 victories. In the limelight for Queens was hard-hitting Ashley Winters (Fredericktown, Ohio, Highland), who tallied 12 kills on 18 attempts to finish the match with a .611 hitting percentage. Freshman Anna Gibbs (Hickory, N.C., Hickory) continued to impress fans at Ovens, as she converted seven of her 13 attacks for kills while overpowering the Trojans defensively with seven blocks (two solo, five assists).

Freshmen Avery Moore (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) and Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) kept the Trojans off balance, picking their spots with nine and eight assists respectively. Moore added two kills, five digs, and three total blocks while Riley contributed two aces and three digs.

Fellow freshmen Ashlyn Dibrell (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) and Alexa Sparrell (Winter Park, Fla., Winter Park) gave to Royals a spark behind the line with a combined seven aces. Dibrell chipped in five kills and two digs while Sparrell's three kills accompanied a pair of blocks (one solo, one assist).

Offering a balanced attack, the Trojans gained contributions from Erika Conner and Carly White. Conner's six kills and White's four blocks (two solo, two assists) were team highs.

Head coach Angela McGuire has worked vigorously throughout the summer to help put the girls in a position to win.

"Every day we step out onto the court we have the same goals and those are to compete from start to finish, stay in our offensive and defensive systems, and communicate," said McGuire.  "Tonight was a great example of what happens when we do just that. These girls deserve all the credit for this win."

Disparities in blocks (12/5.5), aces (10/1), and hitting percentage (.396/.074) allowed the Royals to pick up the consecutive nine-point victories.

The Royals take their perfect record on the road for the first time this season when they travel to conference-rival Pfeiffer University for the Lucky Dog Tournament on Friday. They will face Pfeiffer, Montreat College, and North Greenville University during the two-day event. Click here for detailed information regarding the tournament