CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It took five sets and extra points, but the Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team picked up the program first win in just its second match with a 3-2 (25-20, 13-25, 22-25, 25-23, 16-14) victory over Belmont Abbey College in the Levine Center.

"I am really proud of our team's effort tonight and this entire week," said Queens Head Coach Jeremy Price. "After losing a tough match on Tuesday night, I was please with how we bounced back, went five sets again and took the first victory in the history of our program. It was truly a team effort this week with all 13 guys playing in the two matches and I hope tonight's win is one of the many to come."
 
Queens (1-1) began the match on a 6-0 in front of its home crowd in Curry Arena and hit .360 in the opening set to take a five-point win. The Crusaders (0-1) responded with wins in both the second and third sets of play, hitting over the .400 mark in the second frame alone.
 
In the fourth set, Belmont Abbey opened on a 6-3 run before four unanswered points for the Royals put Queens ahead 7-6 following a kill from junior transfer Marco Vecellio. The lead changed hands eight times throughout the frame with the final occurrence coming at 23-22. Back-to-back attack errors by the Crusaders put Queens ahead as a kill from Nic Cavallaro ended the set and forced a deciding fifth set.
 
 Belmont Abbey scored the frame's opening point, but never led again as the score was tied eight total times in the final set of action. Queens needed extra points, but a kill from sophomore transfer Gregory Esquivel put the Royals ahead 15-14 before the trio of Esquivel, Vecellio and freshman Donovan Bethel denied a Crusader attack with a triple block to make program history.
 
A balanced attack led to victory for Queens as three players finished with double digit kills. Cavallaro paced the team 11 kills, while Esquivel and Vecellio each finished with 10 kills. Esquivel also chipped in 10 digs for his first double-double of the season and freshman Ruben Greenstein registered 14 digs in his first career game.
 
Bethel totaled eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage to go along with six total blocks, while sophomore transfer Hunter Gray tallied 21 assists after becoming the team's primary setter late in the third set.

"We want to thank our fans and everybody that made the Levine Center a great atmosphere throughout the match," Price commented.
 
The Royals remain at home for their next match as they host University of Mount Olive on January 16 at 7 p.m. in Charlotte. Paco's Tacos will be in attendance at the game giving away free samples and one lucky fan will receive a $50 gift card. All fans who come to the game will receive free pom-poms from the Queens Athletics Department.