THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The #2-Seed Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team earned a victory in the Region 15 Quarterfinal over #7-Seed Westchester Community College, in straight sets, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium on Thursday evening. 
 
The Express punch their ticket to the Region 15 Semifinal and will battle #3-Seed Queensborough Community College on Saturday, on the campus of Dutchess Community College, beginning at noon. The winner of that match will compete for the Region 15 Championship later that day. 
 
In Monroe's (16-6) victory over Westchester (6-13), set scores were 25-18, 25-21, and 25-17.
 
"The quarterfinal was just the beginning," Express Head Women's Volleyball Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "Let's keep pushing, there is more work to do."
 
In the opening set, the Express led from wire to wire on their way to taking a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The second set was a different story as Monroe fell behind, 18-15. The Express responded to the pressure by going on a 9-2 run, capped off by a kill from freshman outside hitter Aleishka Diaz, to earn the Blue and Gold a set-point opportunity at 24-20. Westchester scored the next point but then committed a service error to give the Express a come-from-behind win in the set and a 2-0 advantage in the match. 
 
Monroe's strong finish in the second set carried over into the third, as four service aces by freshman outside hitter Gabriela De La Rosa and a pair of put downs courtesy of sophomore opposite hitter Princess Corona catapulted the Express to an 11-0 hold. After Monroe inflated its advantage to 21-7, Westchester got back into it with a 10-2 run to narrow the home team's benefit to 23-17. Monroe recovered as freshman setter Julia Ramos and Diaz each knocked down a kill to clinch the regional-quarterfinal win for the Express.
 
Diaz had a strong night for Monroe, slamming home nine kills, adding just as many digs, scoring five service aces, and providing a pair of assists.

Sophomore middle blocker Nisa Llanos added four kills and a match-high six blocks for the Express. She now has 45 blocks this season which sets a program single-season record. The previous mark was held by both Jaylinne West and Dawn Franklin who each produced 44 blocks in 2022 and 2018, respectively.

De La Rosa generated four kills, six digs, and five aces to help Monroe. Corona tallied four kills and two blocks, while Ramos added 11 assists and a pair of digs. Sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Nolasco scored five kills and notched two blocks. Classmate Serena Bueno tallied nine assists and three digs. Sophomore libero Yasmel Molina anchored the defense with seven digs. 
 
For the Vikings, freshman Ziacera Sexton had a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs, while producing a pair of blocks. Sophomore Julia Pawlowicz finished with eight kills and 13 digs. Freshman Gianna DeChico recorded 21 assists and three digs. 
 
For updates regarding Monroe's semifinal match against Queensborough, up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Saturday afternoon, check out MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels. 
 
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).