SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte women's volleyball team split on the first day of the Wofford Invitational, falling 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-21) to Wofford in the tournament opener, but snagging the first win of the season over Presbyterian in 3-2 fashion (30-28, 25-21, 19-25, 23-25, 15-11) in the nightcap.
 

In the early-morning matchup, 2023 Reigning SoCon Tournament Champions Wofford snagged the 3-0 win over Queens.

Despite taking a 25-9 loss in the first set, the Royals ramped up their offense in the second set of the day, more than tripling their number in kills from four in the first to 13 in the second. Alleigh Johnson hoisted the attack with five kills in the frame. Yet, Mary Emily Morgan and Sarah MacLean of the Terriers each put down four kills, ultimately pushing their team to the 25-15 victory. 

In the third, Queens closed in on the Terriers. The Royals claimed two leads during the set, reaching scores of 5-2 and 9-4 led by a six-kill performance from Anna Grace Sparks before Wofford regained control later on. A late push from Bradley Brown from Wofford ignited the final 25-21 victory.

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In the second match of the day, Queens took home their first win of the season in a thrilling five-set battle over the Presbyterian Blue Hose. Queens took home the narrow 30-28 first-set win after an extended battle that saw both squads exchanging points deep into the set. Presbyterian started strong, capitalizing on miscues from the Royals. However, Queens responded with a series of crucial kills from Alleigh Johnson and Kayla McDuffie, while Anna Grace Sparks proved pivotal in the late stages on the attack. Presbyterian kept it close, with Courtney Williams and Elyse Hutchinson contributing key points to push the set into extra points. Despite their push towards the end of the frame, a combination of Presbyterian errors and Sparks' timely kills allowed Queens to secure the triumph.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Queens again taking control early, thanks to effective offense by Jordyn Johnson and Sparks. Kendall Buish orchestrated the offense effectively, distributing the ball well and helping Queens build a lead. Presbyterian continued to struggle with consistency. Towards the middle of the set, Queens stretched their lead to 16-10, but Presbyterian fought back, closing the gap to 21-19. But Queens held their ground — with Sparks and A. Johnson delivering crucial points needed to close out the set 25-21, giving Queens a 2-0 advantage.

With their backs against the wall, Presbyterian responded with a strong performance in the third set, winning 25-19 to stay alive in the match. 

In the fourth set, Presbyterian continued their momentum, eking out a 25-23 win in another closely contested set. Queens started the set well, taking an early lead with back-to-back kills from A. Johnson. Presbyterian soon tightened their defense, managing to fend off Queens' attacks and push the match to a fifth set. 

The final set saw Queens regroup and take control early. They quickly built a 9-4 lead, thanks to Blue Hose errors and a combination of kills from J. Johnson, A. Johnson and Sparks. Presbyterian tried to respond, closing the gap with kills from Hutchinson, but Queens' block held strong. Sparks was once again the star of the set, recording several important kills as Queens pulled ahead 12-9. Despite Presbyterian's efforts to fight back, Queens maintained their composure and pushed to a 15-11 win.

"I was really proud of how our team battled through the match," Head Coach Hannah Long said. "It was a hard fought win with a lot of strong individual performances. Presbyterian challenged us throughout and was glad we responded well in the fifth and deciding set."



MATCH ONE: 

• Queens' attack percentage rose from -0.028 in the first set to 0.213 in the third.
• Sparks led with 10 kills and a .276 hitting percentage. Her performance improved dramatically after the first set, becoming a key offensive threat in the second and third frames.
• Queens recorded 5 service errors and no aces, while Wofford recorded five aces and only three service errors.
• Queens had 5 total blocks, with McDuffie (2) and A. Johnson (2) leading the defense at the net. 

MATCH TWO

• Anna Grace Sparks led all players with 26 kills, a career-high for the sophomore. Sparks also recorded the first double-double of her career, notching 19 digs to pair with her 26 kills.
• Jordyn Johnson took home a double-double as well, tabbing 12 kills and 22 digs. 
• Alleigh Johnson (19) and Kayla McDuffie (12) also joined the double-digit kills list on the night.
• Kendall Buish tallied 50 assists, which led all players in the match.
• Queens' win today marks their first-ever victory over Presbyterian. Presbyterian and Queens have battled eight times over the span of 28 years, with their last meeting on Sept. 7, 1999.

UP NEXT
The Royals will cap off the Wofford Invitational against the Campbell Fighting Camels on Saturday, Sept. 7 for a 11:00 AM first-serve. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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