HARROGATE, Tenn. — After a pair of postponed matches last weekend, the Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team is back home and ready for a two-match slate over two days inside Mary Mars Gym.
 
The Basics
 
Thursday, Feb. 28 vs. Queens — 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Video
 
Friday, March 1 vs. Cumberland — 7 p.m.
Live Stats
Video
 
Quick Hits
 
-The Railsplitters (7-6) were set to have a three-match home weekend, but the same team, Alderson Broaddus, who postponed matches last weekend wasn't able to make the trip Saturday, due to various reasons.
 
-However, LMU will be back in game day form for the first time since last playing Hawaii on Feb. 17. The Railsplitters will welcome Independent Volleyball Association opponent Queens Thursday followed by a visit from the newly-formed men's program Cumberland Friday.
 
-The last time the Railsplitters were on the court, Jacob Titus solidified his first career start as he led this team with new career highs in kills (8), assists (1), points (9.5), digs (3) and total blocks (2). The freshman was backed up by season-veteran Evan Cory, who had the same number of kills (8) along with a team-high in points (12.5), blocks (5) and aces (1).
 
-Cory is now over 200 points (239.5) to sit No. 3 in the nation, averaging 5.21 per set. If he continues to average his nation's sixth-best 4.04 kills per set, he'll surpass 200 kills this weekend as he is going in with 186. In service aces per set, he is fourth (0.630) in the nation and has a team-high 29 of the team total 79 on the season.
 
-As a whole, the Railsplitters have 560 kills, 519 assists, 360 digs plus 172 assisted and 22 solo blocks on the season. AJ Risavy leads his squad with 449 of those assists and 63 digs so far, while Pedro Carvalho has a team-high 65 blocks and Cory is second (44).
 
-After dropping both sets at No. 2 Hawaii, the Railsplitters aim to avoid their first three-match losing streak of the season in their first match versus the Royals Thursday.
 
 Notes on Queens
 
-It's been just over a month since the Railsplitters traveled to Queens (4-12) for an IVA matchup. In that match, LMU dominated the Royals, winning in straight sets, 25-14, 25-13, 25-9.
 
-Since the Royals' loss in the Levine Center, Queens has gone 3-6 and has won the last two of four matches.
 
-Tristan Santoyo and Nic Cavallaro lead their squad with 143 and 121 kills, respectively. Next, is Alexander Schinzing who has a team-high in assists (382) and service aces (16). Santoyo has two less aces (14) for a team-second best.
 
-As a team, the Royals have 481 kills, averaging 8.9 per set, while their opponent has 695 (12.9/per set). Queens also has 457 assists, 54 service aces, 109.5 total blocks and 489 digs on the season.
 
-Overall, LMU has more than taken control of this series, holding a 3-1 advantage in four matchups and sweeping the Royals in three of those. The Railsplitters' lone loss came last season in a narrow 2-3, set-five loss.
 
Notes on Cumberland
 
-In August of 2017, Cumberland Director of Athletics Ron Pavan announced the addition of the Phoenix men's volleyball program for the 2018-19 school year.
 
-Cumberland (1-14) hosted its first-ever match by welcoming teams for the Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge Jan. 18, and now will travel to Harrogate for its first matchup with the Railsplitters Friday.
 
-The Phoenix lost their first 12 games before getting a victory versus Cincinnati Christian in a 3-0 sweep fashion on Feb. 15. Those three sets matched the same amount Cumberland had won before its first-ever program match victory.
 
-Arthur Amorim has paced the Phoenix with 96 kills, while Christian Lester has 90. Jordan Pierce has a team-high in assists (194) and service aces (13), while Brian Hogg has 164 assists and is in a five-way tie for second on the team with Tyler Sturzoiu, Mason Chambers, Lester, Angel Acevedo Reyes as all of them have seven aces.
 
-As a team, the Phoenix have 444 kills, 54 service aces, 378 digs, 68.5 blocks and 418 assists.