NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx men's volleyball team fell to Atlantic Cape Community College, in straights set, at the Monroe Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-16, 25-22, and 25-10.
 
Leading the way for Monroe – Bronx (0-5) was freshman middle blocker Jeremy Rivera-Aponte who slammed home five kills, produced seven digs, added two block assists, and scored a service ace. First-year defensive specialist Harold Romero anchored the defense with eight digs, while rookie setter Wiltor Cubas produced a team-high 10 assists and provided a pair of digs.
 
The Buccaneers (2-1) never trailed at any point in the opening set. In the second stanza, the Express earned their first lead of the afternoon, at 5-4, thanks to a service ace courtesy of freshman outside hitter Juan Arias. Atlantic Cape countered with an 8-3 run to grab a 12-8 advantage. Rivera-Aponte scored a kill and then nailed a service ace to cap off three unanswered points by the Express to pull them to within one. 
 
With Monroe down 16-15, Romero executed a successful attack to even the frame. Atlantic Cape turned the tide by scoring four of the next five points to go back ahead by a score of 20-17. Monroe once again answered with three straight points, topped off by a kill courtesy of Rivera-Aponte, to tie the set at 20. After the Buccaneers scored the next point, Rivera-Aponte converted another kill to knot it up once again. However, Atlantic Cape had the last answer by finishing the set on a 4-1 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Monroe – Bronx could not get anything going in the third set as Atlantic Cape led wire-to-wire to win the stanza, 25-10, and the match, 3-0.
 
Helping the Express was Arias who generated two kills, just as many aces, a block assist, and a dig. Freshman middle blocker Domingo Brito tallied a kill, two digs, a solo block, and a block assist. Making his collegiate volleyball debut was freshman middle blocker Marvin Culmer who slammed home two kills, added four digs, and registered an assist.
 
For the Buccaneers, sophomore middle blocker Emmanuel Waugh led all players with 13 kills and added five digs, while rookie outside hitter Alec Barns slammed home 10 kills of his own. First-year opposite hitter Joshua Baez generated nine kills, 14 digs, and a trio of service aces. Freshman defensive specialist Aiden Nicholls produced 10 digs and four assists. Freshman setter Christofer Evangelista provided 30 assists, five digs, and a pair of aces.
 
Monroe's next matchup is scheduled for Thursday evening which will be the Region 15 opener against Nassau Community College. Time and location will be announced early this week. 

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.
 
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).