CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte volleyball team played host to Winston-Salem State University in the 2011 Queens Invitational sweeping the Rams 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-18). Tonight marks the Royals' first win under the leadership of new head coach
Lettie Wilkes.
With the first set sitting at 5-3, a kill by
Tori Hernandez (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesvillle) sparked a seven point push putting the Royals up 13-3. A number of mistakes by the Rams allowed Queens to stretch its lead out even more in route to its 25-9 set win.
The second set was much like the first with Queens controlling the serve throughout. The Royals recorded nine kills with
Brittney Barren (Ham Lake, Minn., Blaine) and
Anna Gibbs (Hickory, N.C., Hickory) notching two apiece. Errors continued to plague the visiting Rams as they picked up zero serving points playing on the defensive for majority of the set.
Queens turned up the juice in final set finding their rhythm and tallying 15 kills in route to ending the game in the third, 25-18.
Barren, Gibbs and Hernandez led the Royals attack collecting five kills each in the match.
Avery Moore (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) and
Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) dished out 13 and 11 assists, respectively. On the defensive end,
Jocelyn Kellinger (Roanoke, Va., Cave Spring) notched nine of the 23 total digs for Queens.
The Rams were led by Adrienne Alexander, Lauren Aikens and Francesca Edgerton who each had four kills. Kiara Brown led all with 18 assists.
Queens returns to The Oven tomorrow for two more matches on the second and final day of the tournament. The first will be against Virginia Union University at 2pm. The Royals will then break before facing Saint Augustine's College at 6pm.
