OPENING SERVE
Score: Queens 3 | Tusculum 0
Records: Queens (1-0 overall, 0-0 MIVA) | Tusculum (0-1 overall, 0-0 DI Independent)
Location: Levine Center (Charlotte, N.C.)

THE SHORT STORY
The Queens University of Charlotte men's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a straight-set victory over Tusculum, sweeping the Pioneers 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-22) on Friday evening inside the Levine Center. The win marked the first career victory for head coach Roger Peluso at Queens as the Royals hit .333 as a team and executed well in key moments to secure the season-opening win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Queens finished the night hitting .333, recording 40 kills with just 13 attack errors on 81 swings.
• Casey Maas led all players with 12 kills while adding five digs.
• Kaden Saurer posted seven kills on .385 hitting and served a team-high four aces.
• Chance Shampine finished with five kills and no errors on seven attempts for a .714 hitting percentage.
• Caden Ledbetter chipped in five kills on .571 hitting in limited action.
• Caleb Williams totaled a match-high 23 assists as the Royals hit above .240 in every set.
• Queens registered seven service aces and held Tusculum to a .192 hitting percentage.

NOTABLE MOMENTS

• Queens pulled away late in the opening set to secure a 25-22 victory, using a balanced offensive attack to gain early momentum.
• The Royals were at their most efficient in the second set, hitting .450 while limiting Tusculum to five kills, cruising to a 25-17 win.
• Tusculum made a late push in the third set, but Queens closed the door behind timely kills from Chance Shampine and Caden Ledbetter to complete the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Queens recorded 34 assists on 40 kills in the season opener.
• The Royals committed zero reception errors in the match.
• Tusculum was led by Reef Mathis with eight kills, while Cooper Sadleir added six kills on .417 hitting.

"Really proud of the way our team competed tonight," Head Coach Roger Peluso said. "We stayed composed, trusted each other, and showed a lot of grit, especially in that third set coming from behind. That was impressive to see and says a lot about the character in this group. Getting my first win as head coach at Queens means a lot, but I'm even more excited about the direction we're heading and how the guys responded in a tough moment."

UP NEXT
Queens will remain at home for another non-conference matchup, welcoming Fort Valley State to the Levine Center tomorrow. Jan. 11 at 3:00 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to follow the Royals men's volleyball team on Instagram and Twitter/X to 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.