THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team suffered its first Region 15 loss of the year to nationally ranked No. 12 Nassau Community College, 3-1, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium on Thursday evening. Set scores were 25-5, 25-15, 23-25, and 25-16.
It's Monroe's first Region 15 regular season loss since October 15, 2022, snapping a 20-game regional winning streak. The Express are now 6-1 in regional play this year and 10-4 overall. The loss ends Monroe's overall winning streak at eight matches. Nassau remains undefeated for the season, advancing to 10-0 overall and 8-0 in the region.
The Express struck first in the opening set thanks to a kill by sophomore opposite hitter
Princess Corona. The Lions immediately took over the match by going on a 17-1 to take a commanding hold that lasted for the remainder of the stanza.
Monroe was neck and neck with Nassau for the majority of the second set. With the score 14-12 in favor of the Lions, the visiting team finished the game strong with an 11-3 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
It looked bleak for the Express as they fell behind 19-9 in the third set and were in danger of getting swept. However, freshman outside hitter
Aleishka Diaz slammed home a kill which sparked the Express to turn the tide in the match. Nassau had a 21-13 benefit later, but then the Express scored three straight points, highlighted by a service ace from Diaz and a kill courtesy of freshman outside hitter
Gabriela De La Rosa, to pull Monroe to within five. The Lions temporally halted the Express' momentum by scoring two of the next three points to extend their advantage to 23-17.
The Express did not go down without a fight as a service error by the Lions gave Monroe an opportunity. The home team took advantage as sophomore middle blocker
Nisa Llanos notched a put down to pull the Express to within four. After Monroe closed to within three, De La Rosa and Llanos combined for back-to-back kills to tie the set at 23, much to the delight of the raucous crowd. An attack error by Nassau gave Monroe a set-point opportunity. On the next play, Llanos slammed the ball through the opposition's defense to complete an 8-0 run by Monroe and clinch the third set for the home team, pulling them to within 2-1 in the match.
The Express' strong finish to the third set carried over into the fourth as back-to-back aces by freshman setter
Julia Ramos, a service ace by sophomore setter
Serena Bueno, and a kill courtesy of second-year middle blocker
Chelsea Nolasco propelled Monroe to an 8-5 advantage. Unfortunately for the home team, Nassau countered with a 9-2 run to jump out to a 14-10 benefit. The Express managed to pull to within two on three different occasions, but the Lions finished the frame with a 7-0 blitz to earn the key Region 15 victory and hand Monroe its first Region 15 regular season loss in almost two years.
Leading the way for the Express during the evening was Diaz who tallied eight kills, seven digs, and two assists. De La Rosa provided four put downs and 10 digs. Sophomore libero
Yasmel Molina anchored the defense with 11 digs, while Ramos recorded 12 assists and four digs. Nolasco and Llanos each scored four kills, with the former having two digs and a block. Bueno finished with eight assists.
For Nassau, sophomore outside hitter Sarah Kollarik slammed home 13 kills and produced eight digs. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Clarke added 10 kills, while rookie defensive specialist Alanice Rios helped the defense with 12 digs. Sophomore setter Elizabeth Wagner notched 32 assists, eight digs, and two service aces. Freshman libero Allison Salinas had a strong match with 12 digs, eight service aces, and six assists.
These two teams will meet again on Saturday, at the Nassau CC Main Gym, beginning at 12:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University 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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