CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Golden Eagles returned home this evening as they took on the Royals from Queens University of Charlotte. 
 
JUST THE BASICS
SCORE: Charleston: 1 Queens University: 3
LOCATION: Charleston, W. Va. – Wehrle Innovation Center
RECORDS: Charleston (1-7, 0-2 EIVA) Queens University of Charlotte (3-4, 0-0 conf.) 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a tightly contested match early on as the game was tied at 8-8. Both teams seemed to be taking points back and forth. UC would come back to rattle off two straight points to put them up 11-9. The Royals took advantage of a service error and an attacking error from the Golden Eagles to tie the game back at 11 all. Queens would gain some momentum heading into the first timeout of the set as they took the lead by a score of 18-15 over Charleston. 
 
UC could not seem to get much momentum together as they would go on to fall behind 20-24 before the second timeout of the set.
 
Queens would put the set away on a clean block and take the set 25-20. Charleston had 12 kills on 28 attempts with seven attacking errors netting them a .179 hitting percentage with one ace, six service errors and one block. Queens had eight kills on 19 total attempts with three attacking errors resulting in a .263 hitting percentage. They also had two service aces, one solo block, four blocks and two service errors. 
 
There was much of the same in the second set as it was tied early on 5-5. Charleston would come back to take four consecutive points to take the lead 9-5 over the Royals. Charlotte would answer back with five consecutive points of their own to reclaim the lead 10-9 before the first timeout of the set. 
 
Following the timeout, UC would tie the game back at 10 all. The game stayed tied at 13 all before Charleston came back with two points to make it a 15-13 game. With the game tied late, both teams seemed to be playing well with the score tied at 18. The Golden Eagles then came back with three straight points coming off one kill and two blocks to take the lead 21-18 before the second timeout of the set was taken.
 
Charleston was able to maintain their lead heading into the third timeout of the set as they were up 23-19 over the Royals. 
 
Charleston would go on to take the set by a score of 25-21. Queens had eight kills on 35 attempts with nine attacking errors giving them a -.029 hitting percentage as well as two aces, two blocks and no service errors. Charleston had 16 kills on 36 attempts with six attacking errors giving them a .278 hitting percentage. 
 
Charlotte would jump out to an early lead in the third set as they led the Golden Eagles 11-6 before the first timeout of the set was called. 
 
Charlotte would continue their tear following the timeout as they were able to widen the score to 13-7 over Charleston. The Golden Eagles could not manage to get much going as the Royals pushed their lead to 16-10. Charleston then began to gain some momentum as they brought the game to within three points before the second timeout of the set as the Royals were up 16-13. 
 
UC followed the timeout with an ace and a kill to make it a 16-15 game. UC continued to play the Royals tough as they managed to tie the game up late at 19 all. Both teams continued to trade blows as it was tight down the line tied at 22. Charlotte would take a two-point lead 24-22 before the third timeout of the set was taken. 
 
Charlotte would come back and take the final point of the set winning it 25-22 over Charleston. UC had 16 kills on 37 attempts with seven attacking errors giving them a .243 hitting percentage. They also tallied one ace, one block and two service errors. Queens had 12 kills on 32 attempts with two attacking errors resulting in a .313 hitting percentage. They also tallied one block and three service errors. 
 
Charlotte would come out hot in the fourth set taking a 9-4 lead over the Golden Eagles. UC would then come back with a few points of their own making it a 10-9 game in favor of the Royals. Charleston was able to bring the set back to even at a score of 15-15. The game stayed close late into the set as the score was tied at 19 all. Charleston then took at 20-19 lead off of an attacking error from Queens. After a UC service error, the set was tied at 20 before the first timeout of the set was called. 
 
Following the timeout, Charleston pulled out in front 22-20 from a kill and a block. Charlotte would ultimately tie the game up after two straight points to make it 22 all. They then proceeded to pull out to a 24-22 lead from a service ace and a block before the second timeout of the set was called. 
 
Charlotte would finally comeback after the timeout to put the match away on a kill to walk out with a 3-1 victory as they took the fifth set 25-22. UC had 10 kills on 28 attempts with six errors giving them a .143 hitting percentage as well as four service errors. Queens tallied 12 kills on 28 attempts with eight errors giving them a .143 hitting percentage with two aces, one block and two service errors. 
 
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Freshman Jake Vorburger had a season-high 18 kills, three block assists and nine digs. Freshman Andrew Klein tallied a season-high 12 kills, two block assists and five digs. Sophomore Diego Villafane had 46 assists as well as four block assists. Freshman WWill Kimenhour had a season-high nine kills and a season-high in blocks with 5 blocks. 
 
UP NEXT 
Charleston will be back at home in one week as they are scheduled to play George Mason University on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:00 p.m.