CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team returned to the Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) portion of its schedule on Saturday (Mar. 26), falling in four sets to Queens University of Charlotte.

The Royals (10-11, 4-2 IVA) won by scores of 31-29. 23-25, 25-22, 25-15 to defeat the Pioneers (5-16, 1-4 IVA).

Jake Whyte tallied a season-high 20 kills on a .425 hitting percentage. Colby Landry also landed double-digit kills with 10, followed by Dane Loup (9), Deklan Wingo (8), Shaphar Grant (6), and Shaun Kampshoff (2). Kampshoff tied his career-high 49 assists, while Landry tied his collegiate-best three service aces, all of which came in the opening frame. Loup and Kampshoff each collected a pair as well. Loup equaled his best outing with 12 digs, two ahead of Taylor West. Grant and Kampshoff led the blocking with three and two assists, respectively.

Three Royals reached double-digit kills in the slugfest: Jack Brinkman (19), Stirling Sims (11), and Daniel Leitao (11). Sims and Leitao hit .588 and .450, respectively. Brandon Grabow dished out 43 assists, as three Queens players landed two aces each: Sims, Brinkman, and Matthew Pilch. Leitao scooped up a team-best eight digs, one more than both Guillermo Jordan and Pilch. JP Payne is credited with a match-high four total blocks (two solo, two assists).

Queens ended the match with a .377 hitting percentage with 51 kills and 11 attack errors on 106 total attempts. Tusculum totaled 55 kills, 25 errors, and 125 swings for a .240 hitting percentage. The Pioneers held the advantage in assists (54-51), aces (9-6), while the Royals had more total blocks (7-4). The teams tied with 38 digs each.

Tusculum stays in the Carolinas for another IVA matchup, featuring the Limestone Saints. Sunday's (Mar. 26) first serve from Gaffney is scheduled for 2 p.m.