BRONX, N.Y., September 6, 2018 – Monroe College Express women's volleyball fell, 3-0, in their home opener to Orange County Community College on Thursday at Roberto Clemente State Park, dropping to 0-2 (0-2 Region XV) on the season.
 
The Express took the early lead in the first set on a service error by the Colts, but SUNY Orange responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead. Monroe cut the deficit to three, but the Colts pulled away, and took the first set 25-13.

Orange took the lead to open the second set, and used a series of runs to pull ahead with a 19-3 lead. The Express cut the deficit to 12 on a kill by Kelsie Watkins, but that would be as close as they'd get, and Orange County took set two by the same score as the first, 25-13.

Set three would prove to be much closer. Orange County opened with a bit of a run, but the Express responded, climbing back to eventually tie the third set at 15 all. From there Colts and Express battled back-and-forth, before SUNY Orange took advantage of a trio of Monroe errors to take a 20-17 lead.

Dawn Franklin's ace helped the Express cut the lead to one, but again the Colts pulled ahead with a three-point lead. Down 24-21, the Express were able to starve off match point on an attack error by the Colts, but a kill from Cassidy Smith put the game away and gave the Colts a 25-22 victory.

Julie Trowers led the Express with seven kills, while Rachel Arias tallied 11 assists. Jessica Gonzalez tallied a game-high nine digs for Monroe, while Sydney Fernandez had game-high 12 assists for the Colts.

The Express are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 8 when they travel to Paterson, N.J. to take on Passaic County Community College at 2 p.m.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of Monroe's Bronx campus has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning with their inaugural seasons in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress) and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).