CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In their final home match of the 2025 season at Curry Arena, the Queens University of Charlotte women's volleyball team faced the Lipscomb Bisons in an intense four-set matchup. After dropping the opening frame, the Royals battled back to win three straight sets with scores of 18–25, 25–21, 25–21 and 25–16.
Lipscomb opened the match with strong energy, maintaining a steady lead throughout the first set. Ellis Sargent led the Royals in kills, with contributions from Elizabeth Layson and Camryn Teasley. Tyler Peluso added five assists, contributing to the team's total of 10. Defensively, Queens finished the set with 12 digs and a 16-for-22 sideout percentage.
Queens shifted the momentum in the second set, going point-for-point with the Bisons in a frame that featured five ties and two lead changes. The Royals' offense played with electricity, recording 19 kills and hitting .400 behind strong efforts from Layson and Emma Norris. Queens added 15 digs defensively.
The Royals were just as strong in the third set, putting together one of their most balanced frames of the match. After falling behind 5–2 early, Queens responded with a composed, six-point swing sparked by kills from Layson, Sargent and Mia McMillen to move ahead 8–7. The set featured two ties and two lead changes as both teams traded runs, but Queens' blocking unit helped create separation. Norris and Sargent teamed up for multiple key stops at the net, and the Royals added two service aces — one from Callie DeSchryver and another from Marlee Cook — to keep momentum on their side.
Queens carried its momentum into the fourth set and sealed the match with a 25–16 victory. The Royals kept pace with Lipscomb early before taking a decisive lead late. Their offense continued to perform efficiently with a .389 hitting percentage.
Queens finished with 60 kills, 52 assists, eight blocks and 51 digs. Layson and Norris led the Royals with 14 kills each, while Sargent added 13. Tilley Collins anchored the defense with 20 digs, supported by contributions from McMillen.
"Set one, Lipscomb was the aggressor and kept us on our heels. We weren't clean enough in the serve-pass game, and they executed well," Head Coach Matt Stolz said. "After that set, we changed our lineup to create better serve and serve-pass matchups, and our girls responded."
"We challenged our outsides, Mia [McMillen] and Callie [DeSchryver], to pass and swing at a higher level, and they stepped up in set two. Emma Norris, Ellis Sargent and Elizabeth Layson were also excellent — balanced, aggressive and kept Lipscomb off balance.
"After hitting poorly in set one, we hit .400, .273 and .448 to finish at .303. We had only 11 hitting errors after the first set, which shows how much we cleaned up our offense. Our serving also put Lipscomb in uncomfortable positions, and we slowed down several of their top hitters.
"Finishing 9–7 in conference against a team picked first in the preseason poll is big. We're excited to head into the ASUN Tournament as the No. 6 seed and ready to make a run."
UP NEXT
Queens will hit the road this Thursday for the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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