CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens volleyball picked up a straight-set sweep of Western Carolina on Friday night inside Curry Arena, taking the match 25–21, 25–19, 25–22 to improve to 8–3 overall.
The Royals hit .282 as a team, led by a balanced attack and a strong defensive front. Three players reached double figures in kills: Callie DeSchryver (12 kills, .409 hitting, 13 digs), Elizabeth Layson (12 kills, .320), and Mia McMillen (10 kills, .563).
DeSchryver stood out with a match-high 14.0 points, while McMillen contributed 11.5. Megan Kelly recorded 20 assists and seven digs, while Tyler Peluso added 13 assists with two kills of her own. Tilley Collins anchored the back row, leading all players with 16 digs, while DeSchryver chipped in double-digit digs for her second double-double of the season.
At the net, Queens controlled play with 10 total team blocks. Lauren Stiles stuffed six attacks, while Camryn Teasley added four, combining for half of the Royals' block total. Ellis Sargent also posted four block assists, giving Queens' front line consistent control at key moments.
Set one featured 10 ties and six lead changes before Queens pulled away late with a pair of Layson kills and a DeSchryver finish to close it 25–21. In set two, Queens broke open an early 6-6 tie with a 7-1 run keyed by McMillen and Stiles at the net, eventually winning 25-19 despite a late Catamount push. The final frame was tight throughout, with seven ties, but Kristi Bishop's late service ace and a block from Stiles helped Queens edge out 25–22 to secure the sweep.
"Our sides roughly hit .500 combined," Matt Stolz said. "We blocked a lot of balls, also averaged around three blocks per set... So that's always good to see when you can stop that offense. Camryn [Teasley] went four kills on 10 swings, so it was great to see her contributing to the team at a high level, especially after not playing last weekend. I am very impressed with how she came out. The energy level was through the roof."
Western Carolina was led by Zoe Zudans and Samantha Kranzler, who each posted nine kills. Courtney Graham added five kills and a match-high eight block assists. Setter Katie Boney handed out 25 assists and added two kills, while Samantha Kranzler collected nine digs.
Overall, Queens outpaced WCU 46-33 in kills, 50-34 in digs, and 42-27 in assists, while both teams traded points at the net with 10+ blocks each. The Royals also scored four service aces, including two from Bishop off the bench in set three, which swung momentum late.
On preparing for tomorrow, Stolz said it'll be a great matchup. "It'll be exciting. Winthrop was picked first in the Big South, so I think that's a great test of what we will see in the ASUN, especially early on in the year with some tough opponents. I think our offense is going to be really hard to stop when we're clicking."
UP NEXT
Next, the Royals will face Winthrop on the road for a 2 PM start tomorrow, Sept. 20.
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