CHICAGO, ILL. —  The Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team closed out its 2025 season on Saturday evening, falling to Loyola Chicago in a 3-0 score (25–15, 25–16, 25–14) inside Joseph J. Gentile Arena.

SET ONE
Queens came out focused in the opening frame, trading points early with the Ramblers behind kills from Matthew Pilch and Chance Shampine. A block assist by Nathan Vaupel helped slow Loyola's early surge, but the Ramblers used an efficient .583 hitting percentage to gradually widen the margin. Despite several strong sideouts and a late kill from Carson Strawbridge, Queens dropped the set 25–15. Notably, Queens hit .200 in the opening set, their highest percentage of the match.

SET TWO
In the second set, Queens' front line came alive at the net. The Royals tallied three blocks, including a combined effort from Pilch, Vaupel, and Reed Shuey to stifle Loyola's attack. Shuey added a pair of kills, while Wilson Buchanan continued to distribute the offense with precision. A perfectly-timed block by Pilch and Vaupel midway through the set helped cut into the Ramblers' lead - However, the Ramblers' seven total blocks in the set and three service aces kept the momentum in Loyola's favor. Queens was held to a .000 hitting percentage in the frame and fell 25–16.

SET THREE
The Royals continued to battle in the third, getting contributions from up and down the lineup. Shampine led the way offensively with two late kills, closing out with a team-best eight kills on the night. Pilch and Shuey added points at the net, while Buchanan tallied his 20th assist of the match. Strawbridge and Torin Stewart anchored the back row with key digs, bt Loyola closed the set on a 6–2 run to seal the 25–14 win.

ROYAL RUNDOWN

• Chance Shampine led the Royals with eight kills and added five digs in his final collegiate match.
• Matthew Pilch contributed six kills, two block assists, and three digs while hitting .250.
• Wilson Buchanan directed the offense with 20 assists and chipped in four digs and a solo block.
• Carson Strawbridge recorded six digs, one kill, and a block assist in a strong all-around performance.
• Nathan Vaupel anchored the net with four total blocks and added two kills on six swings.
• Reed Shuey tallied three kills on five attempts for a .400 hitting percentage.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS
"We faced a really good Loyola team in the first round of the tournament, and they are very deserving of the number one seed," Head Coach Jeremy Price said. "It was a disappointing result, but I was really proud of the effort of or guys, especially Matthew Pilch who added six kills; and I thought Sev Allton came off the bench and had some good swings. We aren't satisfied with just making the conference tournament, we want to put ourselves in a position to advance through the conference tournament in the next couple of years."

Queens finishes the season at 10–20 overall and 2–14 in MIVA competition.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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