NASHVILLE – The Lipscomb University volleyball team returned to the friendly confines of Allen Arena for the first time in nearly two weeks and opened a home stand with a three-set sweep of Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. 

Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Queens 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (7-8, 4-0), Queens (5-10, 2-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons went off in the first set with 20 kills, including 10 by Courtney Jones. However, the Royals were up for the task early, as they recorded 14 kills. The opening frame saw 14 ties and four lead changes. 

Down 15-14 at the media timeout, Lipscomb went on a quick 5-2 run to reclaim the lead, 21-17. 

Despite the Royals making it a 22-20 affair, the home team won the final three points thanks to back-to-back kills by Jones and an Addi Pelham kill on set point. 

In the second set, Lipscomb got out to a quick 4-0 lead. With Kelsey Schenck at the service line to start, she posted two aces, while Meg Mersman and Karlie McNabb added kills. 

Later, the Bisons kept the momentum on their side of the net, as Mersman and Berkley Mischler went back-to-back on the block party to lead 19-12.

Mischler then followed with back-to-back kills to help her team win the second set, 25-19, and take the 2-0 match lead. 

Lippy came back out for the third and put together 19 kills to win the set, 25-20, and sweep the match. With Sophia Hudepohl at the serve, the Bisons went from a 5-5 tie to a 10-5 lead.

LUV saw their lead go up to 21-14, but kills by Jada DiVita and Pelham finish the set. 

QUOTABLE
Hear from Meg Mersman after Saturday's win over the Royals. 


KEY STATISTICS
Four Bisons had double-figures in kills on Saturday, led by Courtney Jones with 12, including 10 in the first set. She totaled 27 attacks and committed three errors for a .333 percentage. 

Meg Mersman swung .360 on the afternoon with 11 kills and four total blocks. 

Addi Pelham and Berkley Mischler each had 10 kills and averaged .400 on the attack. Mischler went .471 on two errors on 17 swings, while Pelham tallied a .421 clip with two errors on 19 swings. 

Sophia Hudepohl assisted on 47 kills, while Libby Steinhart set a new career-high with 24 digs. 

Karlie McNabb added 15 digs, while Kelsey Shenck posted 12 digs and three aces. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb posted 56 kills on the afternoon, the highest mark for a three-set match this season and the fifth-highest overall.

After being recognized for becoming the all-time blocks leader in Lipscomb's Division I history, Meg Mersman added two solo blocks and is now five away from tying the school record in solos.

UP NEXT
Lipscomb returns to action next weekend, continuing its three-match home stand. The Bisons will next take on the Lions of North Alabama on Friday at 6 p.m. from Allen Arena.