MOREHEAD, KY. — Despite a energetic first-set start in the opener of the 2023 Eagle Challenge, Queens fell to USC Upstate by a 3-1 score (25-22, 23-25, 13-25, 22-25) and to Morehead State in straight sets behind scores of 14-25, 15-25, and 11-25.
The Royals (0-2) showed tremendous fight right out the gate in the first set of the season, engaging the Spartans in a first-set battle that saw Queens capitalize on a late three-point run that helped finalize the 25-22 triumph. Queens put up 11 kills in the set, leading with three apiece from Alleigh Johnson, Anna Law, and Victoria Wood.
The Royals kept their momentum going into the second set, snagging an early 3-1 lead with help from Kayla McDuffie and Wood on the block. USC Upstate (2-0) would soon find their footing, going on a four-point unanswered run at the hands of Ady O'Grady and Zelasia Edwards to make it a 9-5 Spartan lead.
Both squads rallied through five lead changes before USC Upstate would find some comfort in a 23-18 lead. Yet, a Spartan service error, a service ace from Jordyn Johnson, and back-to-back kills from Wood would give the Royals some spark and cut the Spartan lead to one. Despite the Royal push, USC Upstate would hold off for a 25-23 second-set win.
The Spartans ran through the next two sets by 25-14 and 25-22 scores to secure the victory. In the third, the Spartans would lead by as much as 11 points thanks to a .552 team hitting percentage.
Queens finished the first match of the day with a .135 hitting percentage, posting 49 kills from 155 total attempts. A. Johnson led the offensive effort with 13 kills while Kendall Buish supplied with 38 assists, averaging 9.5 per set.
In the second match, a heavy offensive charge from Morehead State (2-0) was the decider as the Eagles held a ten-point lead in each of the three sets. The Eagles finished with 48 total kills on the night, amounting to a .270 hitting percentage.
Buish captained the Queens momentum on the night, scooping up a double-double of 14 digs and 14 assists. McDuffie led the Royals offense with six kills in the nightcap.
For the second consecutive match, the Royals' defense dug up 50-plus balls, registering 55 digs (18.3 per set) on the night. Buish led a trio of Royals in double-figures with her team-leading 14 while J. Johnson added 11 digs and Jesse George chipped in six dug balls. Freshman Tilley Collins added five digs, while classmate Claire Jenkins added one of her own in their Queens volleyball debut.
At the net, Law tallied two total blocks with Wood and Buish just behind her with a block each.
"Overall we had some great individual efforts today," Head Coach Hannah Long said. "Always disappointing to not come away with a win. We will regroup and come ready to compete tomorrow."
Up next, the Royals cap off the Eagle Challenge against the Stonehill Skyhawks with first serve slated for 11:00 AM. Fans can keep up with the action through live stats here, and on the Queens Royals volleyball schedule tab.
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