CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte, N.C. – The Queen's University of Charlotte student body was in uproar as the Queens volleyball team played the first ever match in the new Levine Center for Wellness and Recreation. The Royals faced a formidable opponent as they hosted the number 16 ranked Wingate Bulldogs. The Royals started off strong but failed to hold off the Bulldogs, eventually dropping the match 3-1.
 
In the first set the Royals were on fire early and built an 8-4 lead. Queens was able to keep the momentum going throughout the set and never trailed the Bulldogs. In a tight match both teams exchanged points with the Royals coming out on top 25-23. Queens finished the set with 18 kills on 44 attempts
 
In set two it was the Bulldogs who took an early lead over the Royals scoring the first three points. Trailing 11-4 Keri Kemp made a beautiful spike to bring life to the Royals. Joining in was Alexa Sparrell who caught fire from the line and hit two aces in a row cutting the Wingate lead to 16-9. But, the Royals were not able to complete the comeback and dropped second set 25-13.
 
The Royals showed intense determination to come back from their previous set taking an early 5-3 lead in the third. Kemp helped the Royals with two back-to-back spikes, keeping Queens on top 8-5. The Bulldogs rallied back tying the game 8-8. In the following point it was Anna Gibbs who tipped it over for a kill keeping the Royals alive with a 9-8 lead.  But that was the last lead of the set for Queens with the Royals dropping third set eventually by the score of 25-19.
 
In the fourth set the Royals were trailing 10-9. With a great assist by Taylor Riley and a clean spike by Gibbs the Royals tied the set 10-10. Brittany Barren showing her prowess from the serving line managed to keep the Royals alive with an ace to bring the game to 11-10. Unable to keep the lead the Royals succumbed to a Wingate offensive barrage and found themselves trailing the Bulldogs 24-17. Queens was never able to rally back, losing the final set 25-18.
 
Leading the Royals statistically were Kemp with 15 kills and Gibbs with nine, while Riley paced the Royals with 39 assists. Jocelyn Kellinger led the defense with 15 digs while Kemp and Riley both added 10 digs each.
 
The Royals will take on Coker College Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Levine Center.