GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Queens University of Charlotte women's volleyball team will open the 2025 season this weekend at the Spartan Classic, hosted by UNC Greensboro. The three-match event will be the first opportunity for the Royals to compete under Head Coach Matt Stolz, who begins his inaugural campaign at the helm after being named the program's fifth head coach in April.
Queens will open tournament play on Friday, August 29, with a matchup against the host Spartans at 1 p.m. before returning to the court later that evening against Gardner-Webb. The Royals will conclude the weekend on Saturday, August 30, when they square off against Sacred Heart in the finale. Find all live coverge links here, or on our schedule tab.
The Royals enter the season looking to build upon the foundation laid during their third year at the Division I level, a campaign that featured steady progress and culminated in the program's first-ever appearance in the ASUN Championship. Stolz inherits a roster that blends experienced returners with a talented incoming class, giving Queens some fresh energy as it takes another step forward in 2025.
RETURNER NOTES: On the defensive end, junior libero Tilley Collins returns as one of the most dependable players in the back row. Collins has been among the ASUN's most consistent defenders and will once again anchor the Royals' serve-receive and backcourt. Offensively, redshirt sophomore Emma Norris brings proven scoring ability on the right side after emerging as a steady threat last fall, while junior Callie DeSchryver adds both versatility and leadership to the attack. In the middle, Camryn Teasley enters her second season ready to provide a blocking presence and offensive efficiency at the net. Together, the core of returners brings experience and production that Stolz and his staff can rely on early in the season.
NEWCOMER NOTES: The Royals will also showcase a highly regarded freshman class that addresses multiple areas of need across the lineup. Outside hitter Elizabeth Layson of Omaha, Nebraska, joins the program after rewriting the record books at Duchesne Academy, where she set school marks for kills and earned multiple all-conference honors while also competing on the national stage in club volleyball. Defensive specialist Kristi Bishop, out of Austin, Texas, brings both technical skill and competitive poise after captaining Vandegrift High School and setting a program record for service aces. Setter Tyler Peluso, a Winter Park, Florida native, arrives as a polished floor leader with more than 3,000 career assists, state championship experience, and recognition as an AVCA All-Region performer. Rounding out the class are middle blockers Lauren Stiles of Lake Mary, Florida, and Brooke Thuss of Mobile, Alabama. Stiles developed through one of the nation's premier club systems in Top Select Volleyball Academy, while Thuss established herself as one of the top blockers in Alabama's 7A division and led her high school league in hitting percentage during her senior year.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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