BELMONT, N.C. – Two of the three sets in Thursday's match were decided by just two points, including a 32-30 marathon in the second, but the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey came away with a 3-0 (25-17, 32-30, 25-23) victory over the Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team inside the Wheeler Center.
 
Queens fell to 4-17 overall with the loss, while Belmont Abbey improved to 9-14 with the home win. The Royals and Crusaders split the season series with each team winning on their home floor.
 
After the Crusaders picked up a 25-17 win in the opening set of play, Queens built an early 11-7 lead in the second set. The Royals' lead grew to 18-9 following back-to-back kills from freshman Donovan Bethel and junior Marco Vecellio, as Belmont Abbey called a timeout with the score 21-14 in favor of Queens.
 
Following the break, Belmont Abbey went on a 10-3 run to tie the set at 24-all, forcing both sides to earn extra points to decide the outcome. The set score was tied six times down the stretch as the Crusaders took advantage of consecutive Queens' errors to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The two sides kept the contest close during the third set of play with 10 total ties and neither team gaining and edge of more than two points. Queens held a late 23-21 lead following a kill from freshman Tristan Santoyo, but Belmont Abbey ended the match with four unanswered points to complete the sweep.
 
Graduate transfer Jake Dube led the Royals with eight kills and a .727 hitting percentage in just two sets of play. Cavallaro followed with six kills and eight digs, while Santoyo had six kills and eight digs of his own to go along with three service aces.
 
The Royals return to the court tomorrow, March 23, when Queens hosts Lincoln Memorial University inside Curry Arena at 7 p.m.