CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Royals welcomed the Saints of Limestone College to The Oven this afternoon picking up their second conference win of the season in four sets. Queens University of Charlotte is now undefeated in the league at 2-0 (6-4 overall), while the Saints are 2-1 (6-5 overall).
Queens defeated the Saints in the final three sets 25-18, 25-23, and 25-22 after dropping the first set 25-18 to Limestone.
The Saints jumped out early in the first set collecting six straight points. Queens played from behind not able to get into a rhythm for the entire set as Limestone went on to win it 25-18. The second set opened much like the first, but this time Queens came roaring back putting down kills to take over the lead.
Tori Hernandez (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesvillle) led the Royals' attack in set two with four kills in route to the 25-18 win equalizing the match at 1-1.
The intensity picked up for both teams in the third set as they fought for the go ahead win. With the Royals up 17-16, Holli Dawson of the Saints made things interesting on a solo block tying the game up (17-17) and forcing a time-out by Queens. The Royals came out of the time-out committing three errors before turning things around sparked by a kill from Hernandez. With
Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) at the serve, Queens pushed three points tying the game back up at 21. The Royals were able to take the lead back and end the set with an exclamation mark on a block.
Queens led early in the fourth with the Saints right on their heels. Once again Limestone was able to tie the game up at 18. The Royals regained control as
Lindsey Everhart (Cincinnati, Ohio, McNicholls) put a ball down making the score 20-18. However, Limestone didn't back down tying the game back up at 20. An error by the Saints would return the serve back to the home team as Queens would score four straight points forcing the final time-out of the game from Limestone. Out of the break, a kill by Hernandez and a block by the front line ended the match in Queens' favor.
Everhart and
Brittany Harvey (Matthews, N.C., Sun Valley ) led the Royals today with 11 kills apiece. Harvey led all with a .500 hitting percentage.
Avery Moore (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) dished out 22 assists while
Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) tallied 16. The Royals as a team collected 19 total blocks.
Kassie Bodeker of the Saints led all with 13 kills. Danielle Seibert had 31 assists. Limestone displayed a balanced effort on the defensive end as Rebecca Kerrison totaled 15 digs alongside 14 collected by Danielle Enrico and Jordan Preville.
The Royals are on the road all next week as they travel to face Brevard, Mount Olive and Barton before returning to The Oven to take on St. Andrews on Tuesday, September 27 at 6:30 p.m.
