CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team kicks off its inaugural season with a trip to Tigerville, S.C. to take on North Greenville University tomorrow night.
 
The Royals are led by head coach Jeremy Price, who previously served as the head men's volleyball coach at Grand Canyon University from 2010-2015, earning MIVA Coach of the Year honors in 2012. He also spent four years at Juniata College and has been a part of the USA Volleyball Youth and Junior National Teams staff since 2007.
 
Price and his 13-member squad will be led on the right side by junior transfer Marco Vecellio. The native of San Quarino, Italy helped his team grab a fourth place finish at the World University Championships in 2016. He was also named 2016 Outstanding Player with his travel team, Triestina Volley.
 
Another transfer, outside hitter Jake Dube, comes to Queens from Juniata College as a graduate student after playing two seasons for the Eagles and seeing time in 33 total matches. Three other players on the team have previous experience at the collegiate level in outside/right side hitter Brian Ford, outside hitter/defensive specialist Gregory Esquivel and setter Hunter Gray.

Freshmen Ruben Greenstein and Conner Nagaki are slated to be the liberos for Queens, while Nic Cavallaro and Tristan Santoyo provide added depth on the outside. First-year player Jack Mitchner will see time as the team's setter, as Donovan Bethel, Cody Nix and Aleksandar Perisic each provide size in the middle of the Royals' front row.
 
North Greenville is a fourth-year program that competes in Conference Carolinas, the only NCAA Division II conference that sponsors men's volleyball.
 
The Crusaders finished 8-19 a year ago and have opened the 2018 season with a three-set loss to NCAA Division I and perennial men's volleyball power Ohio State University.
 
Senior all-conference middle Matthew McManaway leads the Crusader attack, totaling 255 kills with a .314 hitting percentage last season to go along with 85 total blocks.
 
Junior outside Grayson Lawrence is the team's second returning hitter from a year ago, totaling 182 kills, while all-conference libero Dustin King was the team-leader with 211 digs last season.
 
First serve from Hayes Gymnasium is schedule for 7 p.m. and will be carried live on the North Greenville Sports Network.