POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., September 22, 2019 – The Monroe College Express women's volleyball team had an impressive day at a Region XV double-dual hosted by Dutchess Community College on Saturday. The Express defeated Suffolk County Community College, 3-1, in the team's first match, and then erased a 2-0 deficit to win in five sets against Nassau Community College to close out the day. The Express improve to 5-1 overall on the year with the wins, and 5-0 in Region XV play.
 
MATCH 1: MONROE 3, SUFFOLK 1 (25-22, 25-23, 33-35, 25-18)
The Express picked up the first two sets in Saturday's opener against the Sharks. An incredibly competitive third set required Suffolk to earn 35 points to win it and keep the match going, but Monroe rebounded in the fourth frame for a 25-18 win to pick up the victory.
 
Dennyfer Hernandez and Irianna Castillo both finished with 16 kills in the win, with Hernandez leading the team with a .625 hitting percentage in the match. Jeribeth Hodge provided 47 assists, while Smeritte Colon led the team with 22 digs. Hodge also had four aces in the match. Julie Trowers picked up seven kills and five total blocks.
 
MATCH 2: MONROE 3, NASSAU 2 (23-25, 24-26, 25-7, 25-19, 15-12)
After falling behind with a pair of close defeats in the second match of the day, the Express had a dominant third set, winning 25-7 to set the tone for the rest of the contest. Monroe picked up a solid 25-19 win in the fourth game, setting up a deciding fifth set, in which the Express won, 15-12, to claim the victory in the match.
 
Hernandez led the way once again with 16 kills in the match, while also picking up 16 digs. Hodge had an even bigger day in the second match, finishing with a season-high 59 assists. Castillo had 11 kills, seven aces and 14 digs in the win. Trowers threw down 13 kills and made three total blocks. Colon picked up 32 digs in the win.
 
The Express will get back to work on Tuesday, Sept. 24, when they visit SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., for another Region XV matchup. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has 12 varsity and junior varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).