Box Score BOX SCORE

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – In the first match of the program's history, the Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball forced a deciding fifth set but eventually fell 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 16-14) to North Greenville University inside Hayes Gymnasium.
 
The Royals suffered a loss in the first set of the night before rebounding for wins in the second and third sets of play. Sophomore transfer Gregory Esquivel was inserted into the Queens lineup in the second set of play and sparked the offense, registering seven kills in the two set wins.
 
Queens hit .391 as a team in the third set, committing just two attack errors en route to a two-point victory. The Crusaders responded with a five-point win in the fourth set to force a fifth and deciding set of action.
 
In the fifth frame, Queens outhit North Greenville .261 to .136 but four service errors proved costly for the visitors. The score was tied four separate times in the final set and the lead changed hands twice as the Crusaders ended the match with three unanswered points to secure the victory.
 
Esquivel registered a match-high 13 kills with a .312 hitting percentage and two service aces across four sets, while freshman middle Donovan Bethel followed with nine kills and a .900 hitting mark. Fellow freshman middle Aleksandar Perisic had four kills of his own to go along with eight total blocks at the net.
 
Freshman setter Jack Mitchner totaled 30 assists and 11 digs in the match for the program's first double-double and fellow first-year player Conner Nagaki led all players with 15 digs from his libero position.
 
The Royals welcome Belmont Abbey College to the Levine Center on Friday, Jan. 12, for a 7 p.m. first serve in Queens' first home match.