CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte volleyball team earned their first ASUN Championship berth in program history after defeating the West Georgia Wolves in a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) inside the Levine Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
"I think our performance really showed in little areas that don't show up in stat sheets," Head Coach Hannah Long said. "The amount of times we covered hitters, the amount of times they had a serve that tipped the tape and we were able to be aware of it and keep it going... I thought we did a really good job of just being aware and really talking well as a team to pick up a lot of balls."
SET BY SET RECAP
Queens came out with intensity, marked by powerful attacks led by Anna Grace Sparks and Alleigh Johnson, who combined for several early kills that helped establish a lead. Queens showed precision in their offense, totaling 19 kills in this set alone, and allowed just four attack errors. A. Johnson added two service aces back-to-back, keeping West Georgia on their heels. Despite five ties early on, Queens' blocking game, led by Kayla McDuffie and Emma Norris, began to take effect, disrupting West Georgia's attack. With the score close, Queens pulled away toward the end, finishing the set 25-19 by capitalizing on West Georgia's errors and showing consistent execution on both sides of the net.
The second set saw a more intense battle as both teams traded points, resulting in three ties and multiple lead changes. Queens stepped up their defense significantly, tallying five blocks in the frame. Alleigh Johnson continued to be a crucial offensive force, recording timely kills that helped Queens regain control. McDuffie also kept contributing at the net, making it difficult for West Georgia to maintain any rhythm. Queens managed to secure the set with a consistent attack, ending with a 25-20 victory and putting them ahead 2-0 in the match.
With the pressure on, Queens maintained their composure in a tight third set that included seven ties, as both teams fought to gain control. Kendall Buish was pivotal in setting her attackers up for kills that broke ties and put Queens in the lead. Jordyn Johnson and Tilley Collins showcased strong defense, contributing critical digs and blocks to halt West Georgia's offense. Queens once again demonstrated a balanced attack, with Emma Norris and Alleigh Johnson closing out the set with powerful kills. Anna Grace Sparks led a decisive blocking effort that stifled West Georgia's final push. The Royals secured the final three points off three West Georgia errors and finished off the 25-20 win, completing the sweep.
ROYAL RUNDOWN
- Queens recorded a match-high 47 kills, with Kayla McDuffie (13) and Anna Grace Sparks (11) leading the attack.
- The team squared away nine blocks on the day, with McDuffie adding four solo.
- Queens added four service aces from Alleigh Johnson (2) and Tilley Collins (2)
- Kendall Buish finished with a double-double of 13 digs and 38 assists.
- The win tonight marks the most wins for Queens women's volleyball in Division I program history
"What's interesting is that it wasn't our main goal," Long said. "We just had some things that we wanted to accomplish this year that we hadn't yet in this conference and seeing some of those manifest in this way is exciting. I think our team's been really focused in a positive way."
UP NEXT
The Royals are back inside Levine to honor their seniors (Kaylin Dowling, Kendall Buish, Kayla McDuffie, Alleigh Johnson, Jordyn Johnson, and Jesse George) on their senior day match against Austin Peay on Saturday, Nov. 16 for a 2:00 PM start.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the Royals women's volleyball team on Instagram and Twitter/X stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics to stay updated on all the Royals sports teams in action by searching @QueensAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
