Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte volleyball team hosted the Crusaders of North Greenville University in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Tournament today. In a hard fought match the Royals and Crusaders battled for every point, with Queens coming out on top 3-1.
 
In the first set the Royals and Crusaders exchanged points, and with the score 5-5 North Greenville took the lead and made the Royals play from behind for the rest of the match. Despite a deficit of up to five points Queens managed to tie the game again at 24-24. From there high flying outside hitter Yomi Adeyeye from North Greenville pounded away two kills to give the Crusaders the 26-24 first set win.
 
The beginning of the second set was once again a battle as Queens and North Greenville exchanged points throughout the set. With the game tied 16-16 the Royals were able to finally pull away on a Lindsey Everhart (Cincinnati, Ohio, McNicholas) kill followed by a block by Keri Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Lake Mary). The Royals maintained a lead for the rest of the match, with Kemp ending it with a kill to give Queens a 25-22 win
 
Following the intermission the Royals were finally able to build a lead in the third set, with a blistering 12-5 start. North Greenville was able to regroup, and managed to cut the lead 22-19.  From there Queens scored three straight points, and took the set by the score 25-19.
 
In the fourth and final set both teams scrapped for every point and once again found themselves deadlocked early on. Tied at 8-8 the Royals capitalized on kills by Tori Hernandez (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesvillle) and Ashlyn Dibrell (Arlington, Texas, Lamar) to take a lead they would never give up. The Royals continued to add on to the deficit and eventually took the set 25-14 on a kill by Everhart.
 
Kemp led the Royals with 16 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, and was joined in double digits by Dibrell with 12 and Anna Gibbs (Hickory, N.C., Hickory) with 10. Dictating the offense from her setter positions Taylor Riley (Lynchburg, Va., E.C. Glass) led the team with 42 assists, and also paced the Royals with 15 digs. Jocelyn Kellinger (Roanoke, Va., Cave Spring)  Brittney Barren (Ham Lake, Minn., Blaine)  and Sarah Malpass (Gainesville, Fla., Gainesville) all joined her in double digit digs.
 
The Royals currently stand at 22-11 on the season and 13-2 in conference play. Queens hosts Belmont Abbey in the championship game Saturday at 2:00 p.m.