NEW YORK – The Monroe College – Bronx men's volleyball team competed in its first Region 15 match in program history on Thursday evening. Unfortunately for the Express, they were on the wrong side of a 3-0 score against Borough of Manhattan Community College at BMCC Gymnasium. Set scores were 25-18, 25-20, and 25-22.
 
Leading the way for the Express (0-12, 0-1 Region 15) was freshman middle blocker Jeremy Rivera-Aponte who slammed home five kills, tallied seven digs, scored two service aces, and produced just as many blocks. First-year defensive specialist Harold Romero produced a team-high 10 digs. Rookie setter Wiltor Cubas provided seven assists and just as many digs. 
 
Monroe got off to a strong start as Rivera-Aponte opened the match with a kill. The Express eventually went up by a score of 7-2. The Panthers (2-0, 2-0 Region 15) countered with four unanswered points to pull to within one. The Blue and Gold answered with three straight points, highlighted by a service ace from Aponte-Rivera, to increase its lead to 10-6. The set of runs continued as BMCC scored five unanswered points to jump out in front, 11-10. Monroe was able to take advantage of a pair of errors by the Panthers to regain a one-point edge. From that point on, BMCC took over the set by scoring seven straight points to take a commanding 18-12 hold. Monroe could not generate a consistent run for the remainder of the set and Borough of Manhattan went on to win the opening game, 25-18.
 
In the second stanza, a kill by freshman outside hitter Angel Guzman gave the Express a 4-3 vantage. BMCC answered with four straight points to take an 7-4 benefit. Monroe kept it close throughout the remainder of the set, managing to pull to within one a couple of times, but BMCC kept fending the Express off on its way to a 25-20 win in the second game and a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The Express fell behind, 22-15, in the third set, but did not go down without a fight. A kill by Guzman highlighted six unanswered points by Monroe to pull them to within one. After BMCC extended its lead to 23-21, Rivera-Aponte produced a successful attack to inch the Express to within one. However, Borough of Manhattan scored the final two points of the set to claim the third game and its second regional win of the season.
 
For the Express, Guzman had two kills, six digs, and a block. Freshman outside hitter Juan Arias also tallied six digs, while providing a kill and a block. First-year opposite hitter Marvin Culmer generated a kill, two blocks, and a dig. 
 
For the Panthers, freshman outside hitter Chong Lin Li led all players with 18 kills, while providing eight digs and a service ace. First-year libero Eugene Villarruz anchored the defense with a match-high 17 digs, while recording a pair of assists on the offensive end. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will host Kingsborough Community College, in Region 15 action at the Monroe Athletic Complex, on Saturday evening. First serve is set for 5:00 p.m. 

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).