Box Score WINGATE, N.C. – The Royals volleyball team travelled to the campus of Wingate University to face off against the Saints of Flagler University today. In their first NCAA postseason appearance in school history the sixth seeded Royals found themselves facing a tough opponent and ultimately lost the match in three sets.
 
Following the Royals taking the first point, Flagler rolled of four straight points to give the Saints an early set lead. Down 3-7 a few points later head coach Lettie Wilkes was forced to take an early timeout to try and stem the potent Flagler offense. Following the timeout Flagler continued to build on the lead, forcing Queens to take their last timeout of the set with the score 5-13.
 
The Royals continued to battle throughout the set, and forced the Saints to take a timeout with the score at 15-23. But, the Royals ultimately could not overcome the deficit and dropped set one by the score 16-25.
 
Following the set break Flager took an early lead at 5-8 forcing a Queens timeout after a three point run by the Saints. Immediately after the break Flagler rolled off four more points and Wilkes once again was forced to use her last timeout to regroup her squad. Capitalizing on several Queens errors the Saints pulled away to take the second set by the score 13-25.
 
Opening up the third set for the Royals were two service aces by senior setter Taylor Riley, but the Saints countered and soon both teams found themselves battling for every points. But, the energized Queens team refused to give in and soon tied the score at 13-13 following a service ace off the rocket arm of Alexa Sparrell.
 
The Saints quickly countered with three points of their own, and the Royals were forced to take a timeout with the score at 13-16. With Abbey Meyers of Flagler keeping the Royals on the heels with her serving, Queens was forced to burn their final timeout down 14-19.
 
Queens did manage to cut the lead to two following a Brittney Barren service run, but soon the Saints expanded their lead and won the set by the score of 19-25.
 
Meredith Jones led the Royals with 7 kills, and Riley paced the team with 22 assists. Keri Kemp led Queens with seven digs while Elizabeth Bialkowski tallied four total blocks.
 
The Royals finished the season 17-12 overall.