THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team earned a hard-fought Region 15 victory in four sets over Queensborough Community College, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium, on Thursday evening. Set scores were 25-20, 23-25, 28-26, and 25-16. The win snaps a mini two-match winless streak for Monroe.
 
The Express bump their Region 15 record to 7-2 (11-5 overall). The Tigers drop to 11-3 in the region (13-4 overall). 
 
"Great turnaround for the ladies," Express Head Women's Volleyball Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "They worked together to earn the victory in such an important match."
 
Monroe trailed 14-13 in the opening set but responded with a 4-1 run to take the lead for good. In the late stages of the stanza, sophomore middle blocker Nisa Llanos slammed home a kill to give the Express a 22-18 advantage. The Tigers scored the next two points to pull to within two. However, Monroe took advantage of three straight errors by Queensborough to close out the first game.
 
Monroe – Bronx got off to a sluggish start in the second set, falling behind by a score of 12-6. The Express chipped away as a kill by freshman outside hitter Aleishka Diaz and then a service ace by second-year libero Arielys Colon pulled Monroe to within 16-14. However, the home team could not catch up as Queensborough hung on to win the frame, 25-23, to even the match at a set apiece.
 
The Express came storming out of the gate in the third set, jumping out to an 9-3 benefit. The Tigers countered with an 11-0 run to jump out to a five-point lead. Down 21-16, Monroe once again slowly narrowed the deficit, eventually pulling to within 23-21. Queensborough scored the next point to earn a set-point opportunity. All seemed lost as Monroe was down to its final point. In persevering fashion, Monroe scored four straight times, highlighted by a kill each from Diaz, freshman outside hitter Gabriela De La Rosa, and sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Nolasco to catapult to a 25-24 edge and have a set-point opportunity of its own. The Tigers scored two in a row to flip the table on the Express. However, Monroe stayed alive by winning the next rally and then freshman defensive specialist Kaileex Batista nailed back-to-back aces to clinch the come-from-behind set-victory for Monroe, putting the Blue and Gold up 2-1 in the match.
 
In the fourth set, the Express fell behind by a score of 11-10. Once again, they made a comeback, this time scoring eight straight points to take a commanding 18-11 hold. That put the contest out of reach for Queensborough as De la Rosa clinched the set and the match by slamming home a kill to secure the key regional win for Monroe.
 
Diaz had a strong night for the Express, tallying a double-double with 13 kills and 20 digs, while adding two service aces. De La Rosa provided eight kills, three digs, and two service aces. Freshman setter Julia Ramos added 14 assists and eight digs, while Batista scored four aces, Molina tallied nine digs, while sophomore setter Serena Bueno notched 12 assists. Colon generated eight digs, three assists, and two aces. Llanos scored six kills.
 
For the Tigers, freshman right side hitter Olivia Olchawa generated 10 kills, four blocks, and three digs. Second-year outside hitter Melanie Chuu produced eight kills, 19 digs, and three service aces. Sophomore libero Cynthia Reyes provided 13 digs and three assists. Second-year setter Isabel Torres notched a double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs, while providing two service aces.
 
Prior to the match, Monroe – Bronx honored seven sophomores during the Sophomore Night Ceremony. The honorees were Colon, Princess Corona, Bueno, Llanos, Molina, Shirley Garo, and Nolasco.
 
"The sophomores did an amazing job on the court," Aponte-Orta said. "I will miss these young ladies forever. Their expertise was amazing to watch today on the court."
 
Monroe – Bronx will have a pair of Region 15 matches on the campus of Borough of Manhattan Community College on Saturday afternoon. First, the Express will take on the host-Panthers at 12:00 p.m. and then will battle the Tigers of Fashion Institute of Technology at 2:00 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.
 
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).