CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Head coach Hannah Long and her squad returned to Curry Arena Friday evening for a faceoff with Lipscomb University. The team displayed an incredibly scrappy defense however fell short in straight sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-17). 

Queens trailed 10-5 early in the first set until back-to-back errors by the Bisons followed by a pair of kills by Victoria Wood and Kayla McDuffie and an ace by Alleigh Johnson helped knot the set at 10. Later in the set, Wood's second kill of the day and a kill by Abbey Criser kept Queens within reach, 15-13 heading into the first media timeout.
 
Out of the media timeout, Lipscomb managed a three-point run and forced Queens to call a timeout to regroup. The Royals were firing on all cylinders out of the timeout, mustering together a four-point run of their own, capped off with an ace by Jesse George and a solo block by McDuffie, forcing Lipscomb to call its first timeout. Lipscomb held it together late and pushed the final three points, taking the first set, 25-20.

Both teams went point for point in the early portion of the second set with Queens' scrappy defense forcing some long rallies and earning tough points. Trailing 8-6, the offense played through Alleigh Johnson as she earned three kills in a four-point span to cut the deficit to 9-8. 
 
The Bisons put together a strong push in the mid-portion of the set, increasing their lead to 19-11. Johnson continued to produce, managing another trio of kills late but Lipscomb would hold tight and take the second set, 25-17.

Queens kicked off the third set with solid play on both sides of the ball as kills by Criser and McDuffie helped tie the set at eight. The Royals later trailed 15-11 heading into the media timeout and came out the break with a vengeance, taking four of the next five points and cutting the deficit to one, 16-15.

Lipscomb closed out the set with strong offensive showing of its own and would go on to win the match.

By The Numbers

• Alleigh Johnson was a force to be reckoned with on offense, totaling 13 kills and an impressive .333 hitting percentage. 
• Kayla McDuffie ended the match with three kills to no errors and added three total blocks, two of which were solo. Anna Law also managed a three-kill night without error.
• Jesse George and Kaylin Dowling, along with Johnson, managed nine digs each. 
• Kendall Buish dished out 26 assists on the day, just short of 9.0 per set.

The Royals are back in action tomorrow, October 29 with a home matchup against Austin Peay State at 5PM.