NEWARK, N.J. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team battled a strong NJIT team in Newark, but ultimately fell to the Highlanders in a closely contested five-set match (17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-25, 11-15) inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness & Events Center on Friday, Jan. 24.
SET ONE
The match opened with NJIT asserting dominance early with a .471 hitting percentage to keep Queens at bay. Despite notable kills from Chance Shampine and Matthew Pilch, NJIT's consistent attack led by Wiktor Nowak secured the first set by a tight 25-22 score.
SET TWO
The Royals rebounded strongly in the second set, capitalizing on NJIT's eight attack errors. A balanced offense with key plays from Carson Strawbridge and Shampine, coupled with service aces from Nathan Vaupel, propelled Queens to a .350 hitting percentage. The Royals built a commanding lead midway through the set and held off a late push from NJIT to even the match.
SET THREE
Queens carried its momentum into the third set, leading with a resilient defensive effort and consistent serving. Shampine delivered back-to-back service aces during a key stretch, while Strawbridge contributed pivotal kills to keep the Royals in control. A late block by Reed Shuey and Shampine sealed the set, giving Queens a 2-1 lead.
SET FOUR
NJIT responded emphatically in the fourth set with a .654 hitting percentage. Despite strong defensive efforts from Chris Peters and digs from Shampine, Queens couldn't find an answer for NJIT's attack. Antonio Feliciano's performance helped NJIT to force a decisive fifth set.
SET FIVE
The final set was a nail-biter, featuring three ties early on. Queens saw impactful plays from Strawbridge and Shuey, but Queens miscues allowed NJIT to gain a crucial edge. Nowak's service aces and timely kills were crucial in closing the match in NJIT's favor.
"Reed Shuey stepped up big in the middle and delivered one of his best performances of the season," Head Coach Jeremy Price said. "Carson Strawbridge continues to lead the charge offensively for us and was solid yet again tonight. We will move our focus to the next match against Princeton on Sunday."
ROYAL RUNDOWN
- Carson Strawbridge led the Royals with 16 kills, while adding four digs and a block.
- Reed Shuey finished with seven kills and two blocks. He ended the night hitting a .385 to lead the team.
- Cayden Marin added 39 assists overall.
- This marks back-to-back seasons that NJIT and Queens forced five sets. In their last meeting on Jan. 27, 2024, NJIT completed the 3-2 victory.
UP NEXT
The Royals next take on the Tigers of Princeton on Sunday, Jan. 26 for a 12:00 PM ET start.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the Royals men'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.
