CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Despite compiling the second-most kills in a match in program history, the Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team was unable to pull out a five-set victory late Saturday afternoon inside Curry Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Railsplitters (5-8) laid down a season-high 67 kills and swung at a .230 clip but could not maintain a 2-1 lead against Queens University after winning the second and third sets.
 
The host Royals (10-9) roared back after the first three sets were decided by two points apiece, claiming the fourth set in dominant fashion before escaping 15-13 in the deciding fifth. Queens was also impressive offensively, totaling 66 kills off a .252 attack.
 
With four of the five sets decided by a combined eight points, the five-set thriller featured 31 ties and 12 lead changes. LMU notched 12 total team blocks in the affair for the second-most of the season as four different Railsplitters reached double figures in kills led by sophomore outside hitter Jacob Titus' career-high tying 17.
 
Neither team served more than two aces and the Royals had 14 total team blocks across the five sets.
 
The two teams came out guns blazing as both sides of the net recorded an attack percentage of at least .333 in the opening set with 33 combined kills. Hitting .385, LMU hammered 19 first-set kills with only four attack errors but a late push by Queens gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the match after the Railsplitters held set point at 24-23. The Royals won the final three points of the set for a 26-24 win.
 
LMU was even more efficient in the second set, posting 16 kills on a .394 attack with only a trio of attack errors. Trailing 25-24, the Railsplitters put together three consecutive points to take the set 27-25 and even up the match. Another 16 kills in the third set by LMU and nine Queens attack errors resulted in a 26-24 set win for the Railsplitters. Once again down set point, this time at 24-22, LMU rallied and ended the set on a 4-0 run capped by a Titus kill.
 
An anomaly fourth set saw the home team paste 13 kills off a phenomenal .632 attack with only one attack error. Held to nine kills on a -.042 attack with 10 attack errors, the Railsplitters were not able to overcome an 11-3 Royal run that led a to 25-13 set to even the match at 2-2.
 
A kill from freshman outside hitter Cole Campisano gave LMU a 12-10 lead in the crucial fifth set and Titus knotted things at 13 with a kill of his own, but Queens would end the day on a 5-1 run.
 
Freshman right side hitter Justin Sharfenaker registered a near double-double with 15 kills and career-high tying nine digs, while Campisano also nearly had a double-double with a career-best 15 kills and eight digs. Senior middle hitter Pedro Carvalho put 11 kills and four blocks to his name and sophomore middle/right side hitter Dawson Walker tied his career high with a match-high seven blocks. Junior setter AJ Risavy doled out a season-high 57 assists.
 
Nic Cavallaro and Tristan Santoyo led the Royals with a match-best 18 kills each and Queens got 54 assists and six blocks from Brandon Grabow, along with 16 digs from Guillermo Jordan.
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters wrap up their weekend road trip Sunday afternoon at Limestone University. First serve from Gaffney, South Carolina, is slated for 2 p.m. Next week, LMU hosts King Tuesday, March 16 at 2 p.m. and Tusculum Friday, March 19 at 2 p.m.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter volleyball throughout the 2021 season.