GREENEVILLE, TENN. – Following more than a week away from competition, the Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team returned to action on Tuesday afternoon with a 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-16) win over fellow Independent Volleyball Association member Tusculum University inside Pioneer Arena.
 
The Royals (13-10, 5-1 IVA) hit .322 as a team, recording a hitting performance above .300 for the fifth time this season, and tallied 59 kills, the team's fifth highest total of the year. Tusculum 2-11, 1-5 IVA) did tally nine total blocks in the loss but were unable to put swings down against the Royals' stout back row.
 
Queens hit an astounding .600 in the opening set, committing just one attack error on 30 swings leading to a 1-0 match lead. The Pioneers responded with a win of their own in the second set to even the match score and avoid a sweep.
 
The third set of action featured a .300 hitting performance from both sides and needed extra points to be decided as Queens survived a late Tusculum rally to retake the match lead. The Royals put the match away in the fourth and final frame, outhitting Tusculum .300 to .000 to earn the victory.
 
Josh Bragg led all players with a career-high 19 kills and hit .607 with 11 digs, while Tristan Santoyo followed with 13 kills on the right side. JP Payne chipped in 10 kills and a .467 hitting mark from the middle and setter Daniel Leitao finished with 42 assists.
 
Queens will conclude the 2021 regular season on Friday with a road contest against conference foe Limestone University in Gaffney, S.C. at 7 p.m.