Follow
There was no more rest for Queens setter Daniel Leitao when the match reached the critical moment.
Leitao coming off the bench guided the offense to a .313 attack percentage in the decisive fifth game as Queens defeated Barton 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-6 on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The graduate student, who has started all but two matches this season, was inserted into the lineup late in the fourth-game loss and helped the Royals almost rally from a five-point deficit. Leitao in the fifth game also led Queens to a match-low one attack error and was serving during a 5-0 run.
Queens in the non-conference victory out-hit Barton .227 to .162 and had four players finish with double-digit kills.
Outside attacker Jack Brinkman led all players with a season-high 22 kills, including having a game-high eight kills in the opening game.
Pin-hitter Chance Shampine had 12 kills, while Albert Warzocha added 11 kills. In addition, middle attacker Shaphar Grant had 10 kills to help the Royals snap a six-match losing streak.
Brinkman also had a match-high four aces, and Shampine contributed three aces. Queens finished the match with nine aces – eight more aces than Barton.
Barton outside attacker Brandon Jonston in the loss had a team-high 16 kills.