CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After dropping the first set, the Royals battled back winning three sets in a row for a 3-1 win this evening over Pfeiffer University in The Oven. In front of a packed house on Dig Pink night, Queens University of Charlotte defeated the Falcons by scores of 21-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 26-24.

The Royals (7-1, 12-6) currently hold the top spot in the East Division and are third overall in the conference, while the Falcons fall to 4-4 in the league and 7-8 on the season.

In the fourth and final set, it seemed the Falcons had control as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Brittney Barren (Ham Lake, Minn., Blaine) of Queens put a ball down for a point. The Royals played from behind for majority of the set until a run sparked by two kills in a row from Keri Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Lake Mary) brought the Royals to within one, 18-17, forcing the visiting Falcons to take a timeout. Six ties would follow before Queens took the win in extra points.

The Royals struggled on the attack in the first set collecting only eight kills on a .08 hitting percentage as the Falcons opened the match with the 1-0 lead.

A different team returned to the court in the second set for Queens as they opened with a 10-4 run. The Royals kept control of the set throughout collecting 18 kills on a .556 hitting percentage. Pfeiffer closed the gap to three late in the set before a kill by Barren and two attack errors by the Falcons ended the set in Queens' favor.

The Royals led early in the third set until the Falcons caught up midway through tying the game at 15-15. With the Royals controlling the serve, Kemp fired a ball to the court reclaiming the lead for Queens. She followed her kill with a block alongside Barren. An ace from Lindsey Everhart (Cincinnati, Ohio, McNicholls) was all the Falcons could take as they called a timeout with the score sitting at 19-15. Out of the short break, Barren delivered a facial as the Royals went on to win the set 25-19.

Kemp led all players on the court with 17 kills on a .519 hitting percentage. Barren and Anna Gibbs (Hickory, N.C., Hickory) also contributed to the offense collecting seven kills each. Ashlyn Dibrell (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) and Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) split time at the setter position tallying 20 and 18 assists, respectively. On the defensive end, Jocelyn Kellinger (Roanoke, Va., Cave Spring) led Queens with 17 digs alongside Barren's 10 digs. Tori Hernandez (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesvillle) led all with six total blocks while Everhart chipped in five.

Kim Amerell and Milana Mervosh led the Falcons' attack with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Cate Glendenning dished out 35 assists. Colleen Wands led her team with 12 digs on defense, while Jordan O'Bryant and Jessica Homrich each notched three total blocks.

Queens will play on Tuesday in Montreat, N.C. at 6:30 p.m., against the Cavaliers of Montreat College.