BAYSIDE, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 10 Monroe College – Bronx women's volleyball team was pushed to the limit on Tuesday, October 3, but was able to pull off a tight five-set victory in Region 15 play over Queensborough Community College at RFK Gymnasium. Set scores were 20-25, 25-13, 25-21, 22-25, and 15-7.
 
The Express and Tigers were both undefeated in Region 15 play, at 6-0, coming into the contest. Monroe – Bronx now advances to 7-0 in the region, and 12-1 overall, while Queensborough falls to 6-1 against regional opponents and 7-2 for the season.
 
Leading the way for Monroe was sophomore outside hitter Lisanel Rodriguez who had a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs, while scoring a pair of service aces and adding an assist. Classmate Lesly Almonte also had a strong night on the attack with 14 kills, while providing two digs and nailing an ace. Sophomore setter Luisanni Rodriguez had a match-high 43 assists, while adding seven digs on the defensive end. 
 
Sophomore libero Valery Nunez led all players on defense with 33 digs and she also tallied five assists and three service aces. Second-year outside hitter Selena Mitchell had a strong match with 10 kills and 13 digs, while scoring four aces, recording an assist, and executing a block. 
 
The Express got off to a strong start in the opening set, as a kill by Lisanel Rodriguez gave the Blue and Gold a 4-0 advantage. A little while later, she executed another successful attack to pad Monroe - Bronx's lead to 7-2. However, the Tigers scored five unanswered points to tie the game at seven. The Express recovered by scoring four of the next six points, capped off by a put down courtesy of Mitchell to jump back in front, 11-9.
 
From that point on, Queensborough took over the set by going on a 7-2 run to take a 16-13 benefit. Monroe was forced to play catch up for the remainder of the frame and Queensborough eventually clinched the first game, 25-20, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Monroe – Bronx bounced back in the second set by earning a wire-to-wire victory, 25-13. Lisanel Rodriguez clinched the Express' first-set victory of the evening by taking the pass from Luisanni Rodriguez and slamming home a kill to even the match at one game apiece. 
 
The Express were put in a tough situation in the third stanza, falling behind by a score of 14-11. However, a pair of kills by Almonte ignited her team to four straight points to jump out in front. Later in the stanza, it was tied up at 17 points apiece. Queensborough gained momentum as a kill by freshman outside hitter Michelle Lui and a service ace courtesy of sophomore opposite hitter Emely Palacio put the home team up by two. 
 
Monroe – Bronx countered with a 4-1 run, highlighted by a kill and a block from Mitchell and a successful attack each by Lisanel Rodriguez and sophomore middle blocker Xing Stewart-Greer, to put the Blue and Gold in front, 21-20. After the Tigers tied it up, Monroe finished the third game with four unanswered points, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Almonte, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Queensborough did not go down without a fight, as the home team took a 22-19 advantage in the fourth set, after Monroe had an early lead in the frame. Lisanel Rodriguez helped Monroe respond with two kills during the Express' 3-0 run to tie it up at 22 points apiece. The Tigers would disrupt Monroe's momentum and score three straight points of their own to capture the fourth set, 25-22, and force a fifth and deciding game between the two undefeated Region 15 teams. 
 
Monroe – Bronx got off to a quick start in the deciding set, as Almonte and Mitchell scored kills to guide their team to a 3-0 benefit. After Queensborough scored the next point, the Express surged to an 8-1 hold thanks in part by a kill each from Almonte and Lisanel Rodriguez and a service ace by Mitchell. The Express eventually inflated their lead to 14-5. The Tigers scored the next two points to stay alive, but Monroe finished it off thanks to Mitchell slamming home a kill to clinch the Express' seventh Region 15 victory in as many tries this season.
 
For Monroe, Stewart-Greer had six kills and a block. Freshman defensive specialist Yasmel Molina provided seven digs. First-year middle blocker Nisa Llanos generated five kills and a dig. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pinales added four digs of her own. Classmate Haley Castaneda notched a kill and two digs, while freshman middle blocker Chelsea Nolasco provided a kill, an assist, and a service ace.
 
For Queensborough, Lui tallied 13 kills, 16 digs, two blocks, just as many assists, and a service ace. Freshman setter Isabel Torres had a double-double of her own with 35 assists and 15 digs, while scoring a service ace. Rookie libero Cynthia Saravia Reyes had a productive match with 21 digs, four assists, two kills, and a trio of service aces. 
 
No. 10 Monroe – Bronx will take on Kingsborough Community College, at the Kingsborough CC Gymnasium, on Thursday, October 5. The first serve for the Region 15 match is scheduled for 7:00 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 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).