CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte tabbed their fifth win in a row on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 against Catawba College. The Royals defeated the Indians in four sets going 25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 25-19 to move to 14-4 on the year and 11-2 in the South Atlantic Conference. Catawba fell to 9-9 overall and 7-6 in the SAC.

The Royals trumped Catawba in kills, 72-49, as Rebecca Cochran led the team with 15. Jessica Raines tallied just a point shy taking 14 kills in the match. Cochran also led the team in digs with 17 while Sydney Kunz tabbed 46 assists for the team lead.

Alex Hopper led the Indians with 11 kills. McKenzie Garrison contributed to the scoreboard finding five service aces in the match as McKenzie Garrison helped to keep the team alive with 16 digs.  

Queens tabbed the first set after the two teams battled through an evenly paced game. The Royals managed the first run taking five unanswered (15-10) after a fluctuating opening to the set. As the two teams went back to switching points, that five-point gap proved helpfully as the Royals held the lead until the closing kill by Alex Thompson.

With another even start, Queens and Catawba equaled at 11-11 with the Indians calling a timeout to talk. The break helped as Catawba claimed the next three points to give them an edge to even the match.

The third set moved back in the Royals' favor but not before Catawba found a small lead in the opening points of the game. Queens found momentum to meet at 9-9 as the two would stay close through the end of the set. With a slight advantage in the final points, Queens forced Catawba to call timeout trailing by one (23-22). Although the Indians tallied the next kill, Queens claimed the set off a service ace from Rebecca Cochran.

The fourth game started with back-to-back service aces from Kunz, allowing Queens to grab hold of the momentum early. The Royals jumped out to an 8-2 lead, but Catawba found a five point run of their own to come within two of the home team at 12-10. Although the Royals held onto the lead, Catawba's run provided pressure for Queens in their attempt to close out the match. As the Indians pulled back within two at 20-18, Queens found strength in grabbing a 5-1 run for the match.  

The Royals will face the second ranked team in the conference, Wingate, on the road in their next match. The two teams are set to play on Friday, October 21, at 7 p.m.