HONOLULU – Facing its toughest test of the season, the Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team fell by a 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-17) count to No. 1 University of Hawaii on Thursday night on the opening day of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational.
 
The Rainbow Warriors remained perfect on the season, moving to 10-0 overall after hitting .434 in the match. In comparison, the Royals fell to 4-5 and were held to a season-worst .025 hitting mark.
 
After Hawaii controlled the opening set, Queens kept the score close in the second frame playing to five early ties and three lead changes. A kill from junior Nic Cavallaro made the score 8-7 in favor of Hawaii before the Rainbow Warriors used a 7-2 run to build a six-point lead it never relinquished.
 
Queens opened the third set with consecutive points, including a service ace from junior JP Payne, and held an early 4-3 lead on a kill from freshman Daniel Leitao. However, an 8-2 run gave Hawaii another five-point lead that it extended to as large a margin as 11 points, 20-9 late in the set. The Royals closed the gap late behind kills from Cavallaro and fellow junior Tristan Santoyo, but Hawaii held on for the sweep.
 
Santoyo led the Royals with six kills and six digs, while Cavallaro followed with five kills of his own. Junior libero Ruben Greenstein chipped in four digs on defense.
 
The Royals continue play in the Pacific tonight, matching up against No. 4 University of California – Irvine at 9 p.m. from the Stan Sheriff Center.