Post-match Interview with Jeremy Price

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team picked up a statement win on Friday night during its first season of competition, defeating Lincoln Memorial University 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12) inside Curry Arena.
 
The Royals improved to 5-17 overall behind a season-high 52 kills and eight service aces. Lincoln Memorial fell to 9-10 on the season after committing 17 service errors and seven blocking errors at the net. The Railsplitters' aggressive style did lead to 14 total blocks on the night as they held on to their spot as the No.1 blocking team in the nation.
 
Lincoln Memorial gained an early lead in the first set of play and held on for a three-point win to gain an early advantage.
 
Queens responded with back-to-back wins in the second and third sets to go ahead 2-1 in the match before the Railsplitters forced a deciding fifth set with a win in the fourth frame.
 
In the fifth, the Royals took advantage of three LMU errors and added a kill from junior Marco Vecellio to gain a 6-3 lead. The Railsplitters cut the deficit to one point before a 3-0 run, highlighted by a service ace and kill from sophomore Gregory Esquivel, put Queens in front by a four-point margin.
 
The Railsplitters closed the gap to one points three times down the stretch, but the Royals remained in front and won the match following consecutive attack errors from LMU.
 
Esquivel came off the bench in the first set to spark the Royals, finishing with 12 kills and 10 digs for his second double-double of the season to go along with two service aces.
 
Freshman Tristan Santoyo followed with 10 kills, seven digs and three service aces, while fellow freshman Aleksandar Perisic totaled eight kills with a .429 hitting percentage and five total blocks. Freshman setter Jack Mitchner finished with a career-high 48 assists and six digs as another first-year collegiate player, Conner Nagaki, led all players with 15 digs on defense.
 
Queens will be back on the court on Tuesday, March 27, in Hartsville, S.C. as the team takes on Coker College at 7 p.m.