Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Charlotte, N.C.- Queens University of Charlotte volleyball started their season on a high note as the Royals went 1-1 on their opening day. The Royals capitalized in their fourth set to claim victory over Montevallo going 25-17, 18-25, 25-23, 25-12. Earlier in the day, Queens forced Lander into five sets before the Bearcats found a rare streak in the match to take the win. Lander took the victory with a 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 29-31, 15-10 score.
"I am very proud of the team," said Head Coach
Lettie Wilkes. "I am proud of their effort as they made their transition out of preseason."
Brushing off the exhausting loss earlier in the morning, Queens strung together a fluid series against the Falcons to take their first win of the 2015 season. Queens started the game finding a 5-0 start and forcing Montevallo to burn a timeout. The timeout proved fruitful as the game soon found its way to 10-10, but not before Queens jumped out into a 7-1 hold. A 7-1 run, however forced Montevallo to again use a timeout call, as the Royal made it an 18-12 game. Queens maintained their lead closing with a kill from
Elizabeth Bialkowski.
Set 2 reversed its prior set as the Falcons took the early run shooting out to a 7-3 lead. In a slow climb, the team battled back within two (10-8), but five unanswered gave Montevallo a huge momentum swing. Queens soon found itself down 19-11 fighting to hold on but would be unable to make up the ground as the two teams moved to the third set.
As the teams dove deeper into the game, Queens slowly started to pull away eventually taking a five point gap over the Falcons with a 17-12 score. Montevallo would bounce back grabbing four unanswered points to bring them within two (21-19). However, the Royals would hold on to take the 25-23 match.
Playing inspired, the team sparked out of a 7-7 tie only allowing Montevallo five more points in the match. Seven unanswered rallies led to the team holding a 19-10 lead with
Meredith Jones capping the run. Jones would be the lead-off for the final run of the match taking the team to a 21-12 lead.
Taylor Henry secured the win with a unwavering service ace.
Jessica Raines led the team against Montevallo finding 12 kills in the match. Jones would follow with nine kills, three service aces, and 15 digs. The Royals tabbed 12 total service aces in the match.
The Falcons were led by Kristy Bohan who tallied 11 kills. Nicole Holton and Rebekah Phelps equaled at seven kills falling behind Bohan.
Although Queens came out strong taking the first set, game one of the season fell to the Bearcats of Lander. Queens took the first matchup fighting to take the game 25-23. Lander would rally taking the narrow margin for the second set going 26-24. With things tied at one set apiece, the stage was set for the two squads to battle for the upper hand in extra sets.
Tied at 15-15, Lander pulled ahead 20-16 in the third set. Queens would stage a comeback to see the game at 21-21 with
Rebecca Cochran finding the court off a
Sydney Kunz pass. However, Lander would reel-in the game, taking a 25-22 score.
Focused on staying alive, Set 4 remained close throughout its entirety with no one finding their breakthrough run. Both teams echoed each other until Queens managed to grab their two point win off a block from Bialkowski and Cochran. The 31-29 Queens' score would force the deciding match.
Queens was just shy of the Bearcats in the opening points of the fifth set. However, as the set progressed Lander fell into a grove taking a 5-1 run that gave them the match.
Cochran would take charge in the first game leading the team with 17 kills and 15 digs. Jones added another 12 kills to the Royals accompanied by 29 digs, which topped the team.
Lander's Tarryn Angermeier was the front runner taking 15 kills in the match with six blocks. Halle Dotson took second for kills with 13.
Queens takes to the court tomorrow for day two of the Queens Volleyball Fall Tournament. The squad will play Georgia Regents at 3 p.m. followed by King at 7 p.m. inside the Levine Center.
