GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought Region 15 match to nationally ranked No. 12 Nassau Community College, 3-1, at Nassau CC Main Gym on Saturday afternoon. The Lions claim both regular season matches over the Express this year.
 
The set scores for Saturday's contest were 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, and 25-15. 
 
Nassau strengthens its hold of first place in the region with an undefeated 10-0 record in Region 15 play (11-0 overall), while the Express drop to 6-2 in the region (10-5 overall). 
 
Monroe fell behind 17-6 in the opening set but then chipped away with a 7-1 run, highlighted by a kill each from sophomore middle blocker Nisa Llanos, classmate Chelsea Nolasco, and rookie outside hitter Aleishka Diaz, to pull to within five. Monroe continued to narrow the deficit later in the set as a put down by freshman outside hitter Gabriela De La Rosa capped off three unanswered points by the Express to cut the Lions' lead to 23-20. After Nassau earned a set-point opportunity, sophomore setter Serena Bueno kept Monroe alive by scoring a kill to spark two straight points for her team. However, Nassau scored the 25^th point thanks to a kill by freshman middle blocker Alexandra Pierre-Saint to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The Express once again started slowly in the second stanza, falling behind 10-4. However, Monroe turned the tide as back-to-back aces by Diaz and a kill courtesy of sophomore opposite hitter Shirley Garo capped off six straight points to tie the stanza up at 10. Later in the set, Nassau jumped out to a 22-20 benefit. The Lions began to slump after that by committing three straight attack errors to give Monroe a 23-22 edge. After the home team scored the next point, Monroe countered by earning a set-point opportunity. Llanos finished it off by slamming home a kill to clinch the come-from-behind set-victory for Monroe, 25-23, and even the match at one game apiece.
 
The win in the second set temporarily carried over into the third as the Express jumped out to a 5-2 lead. However, the Lions went on a 9-1 run to claim an 11-6 benefit. The Express could not sustain a strong enough rally to tie it, as Nassau went on to win the third game, 25-22, to take a 2-1 edge in the match.
 
The Lions led from wire-to-wire in the fourths set to clinch the Region 15 victory.
 
Leading the way for the Express was De La Rosa who slammed home 10 kills and tallied seven digs. Diaz had a strong outing with eight kills, a match-high 19 digs, two service aces, a pair of blocks, and just as many assists. Sophomore libero Arielys Colon anchored the defense with 12 digs, while classmate Yasmel Molina added 10 digs and a pair of aces. Bueno and freshman setter Julia Ramos each provided 13 assists, with the former adding seven digs. Llanos notched five kills and a block. Nolasco tied a match-high with three blocks, while adding two kills and just as many digs. 
 
For Nassau, sophomore outside hitter Sarah Kollarik produced a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs, while scoring two service aces and adding two blocks. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Clarke finished with 10 kills and three blocks. Rookie libero Allison Salinas had a strong match defensively with 18 digs, while adding six assists and a duo of aces on the offensive side. First-year defensive specialist Alanice Rios generated four kills and 11 digs.
 
Monroe – Bronx will host Queensborough Community College in a key Region 15 matchup on Thursday evening at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. Prior to the match, the Express Athletics Department will honor the Express women's volleyball sophomores with a Sophomore Night Ceremony.  
 
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.
 
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).