CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The nationally ranked No. 4 and fourth-seeded Monroe College – Bronx women's volleyball team fell to nationally ranked No. 3 and ninth-seeded Delta College in an NJCAA Tournament consolation match in straight sets at Alliant Energy PowerHouse Arena. Set scores were 25-14, 25-12, and 25-19. As a result, Monroe - Bronx will take on the seventh ranked team in the country and tenth-seeded Dallas College - Brookhaven in a matchup for seventh place on Saturday, November 11, at 12:00 p.m. central time.
 
Leading the way for Monroe – Bronx against Delta (16-5) was sophomore outside hitter Lisanel Rodriguez who tallied six kills and 13 digs. Second-year libero Valery Nunez anchored the defense with 10 digs, while classmate Lesly Almonte had three kills and seven digs.
 
Sophomore setter Luisanni Rodriguez generated 11 assists and four digs for the Express, while second-year outside hitter Selena Mitchell produced nine digs, two put downs, and just as many service aces. Rookie middle blockers Chelsea Nolasco and Nisa Llanos each had a kill and a block, while sophomore defensive specialist Yasmel Molina tallied an assist. 
 
The Express got off to a slow start in the opening set, as Delta College stormed out to a 9-2 advantage. However, the Express went on a run of three straight points, capped off by a service ace from Nunez to pull the Blue and Gold to within 9-5. The Pioneers recovered and went on a 10-2 run to inflate their benefit to 19-7. Nolasco temporarily halted the opposition's momentum by slamming home a kill which sparked three unanswered points by the Blue and Gold. 
 
Delta was able to rebuild its lead up to 23-10. The Express countered with a 4-1 run, highlighted by aces courtesy of Luisanni Rodriguez and Mitchell, to shrink their deficit to 10. It would not be enough as the Pioneers took advantage of an attack error by Monroe to clinch the opening set, 25-14, to take a 1-0 lead in the match. 
 
The Pioneers jumped out to a 9-2 advantage in the second set. The Express answered with consecutive points concluded by a kill courtesy of Lisanel Rodriguez to shrink the deficit to five. Later in the stanza, Mitchell executed a put down to shrink the opposition's lead to 12-7. On the next rally, Llanos had a successful attack of her own pull her team to within four. However, Delta countered with an 8-0 run to take a commanding 20-8 hold. 
 
The Express would not go down without a fight as Nunez nailed a service ace to cap a 4-1 run by the Express. The Pioneers snatched momentum right back by closing out the set with four straight points to take a 2-0 lead in the match which put the Express on the brink. 
 
In the third set, Monroe – Bronx kept up with Delta throughout the majority of the stanza. After Delta jumped out in front, 8-6, Lisanel Rodriguez executed a successful attack to pull her team to within one. On the next play, the Express managed to tie it up at nine points apiece. After the Pioneers scored the next three points, the Express tallied the next two, capped off by a kill from Almonte to shrink Monroe's deficit to one. After falling behind, 14-11, Llanos produced a solo block and Lisanel Rodriguez scored a kill to keep Monroe in it. A few plays later, Lisanel Rodriguez had yet another successful attack to narrow the Express' deficit to 16-14. 
 
Down 17-14, Monroe fired off three straight points, capped off by Almonte's service ace, to even the frame up at 17 points apiece. However, the Pioneers closed out the game with an 8-2 run to to win the set, 25-17, and claim the match to clinch a berth in the next round of the consolation bracket. 
 
Be sure to check out MonroeExpress.com, as well as our social media channels, for all the latest updates regarding Monroe College - Bronx's run in the NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Tournament.  

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.
 
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