NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx men's volleyball team suffered a hard-fought Region 15 loss to Nassau Community College, 3-1, at the Monroe Athletic Complex on Monday evening. Set scores were 25-13, 25-27, 25-17, and 25-10. 
 
Leading the way for the Express (1-17, 1-4 Region 15) was freshman middle blocker Jeremy Rivera-Aponte who slammed home seven kills, added five digs, and produced a pair of blocks. Classmate Marvin Culmer scored a team-high nine kills, while first-year libero Harold Romero led the way defensively with 12 digs. Rookie outside hitter Anthony Estevez generated eight digs, a pair of kills, a duo of service aces, and an assist. Freshman setter Wiltor Cubas tallied 14 assists, four service aces, and a trio of digs. 
 
Nassau (7-10, 5-1 Region 15) did not trail at any point in the opening set as they jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage which was too big of a whole for Monroe to climb out of.
 
The Express got off to a good start in the second game as they grabbed the lead four times in the early stages of the stanza. Later in the frame, the Lions went on a 5-1 run to take a 15-11 advantage. Monroe answered with four straight points, highlighted by two kills from Rivera-Aponte and a service ace by Cubas, to even it up at 15 points apiece. Nassau managed to build an 18-16 benefit but then Monroe countered with five straight points, capped off by back-to-back kills courtesy of freshman middle blocker Shain Frazier to propel the Blue and Gold to a 21-18 advantage. 
 
Later, an error by Nassau gave Monroe a set-point opportunity at 24-22. However, the Lions scored three straight points to turn the table and snatch a set-point opportunity of their own at 25-24. Monroe – Bronx fired back by scoring three points in a row, concluded by back-to-back service aces from Cubas, to snatch the second set, 27-25, and even the match at a game apiece.
 
In the third set, three straight kills by Culmer catapulted Monroe to a 4-3 lead in the early stages of the frame. After the Express went up by a score of 5-4, the Lions scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a commanding 14-7 hold. The Express could not generate a consistent run to get back into it as Nassau captured the third set, 25-17, and regained the lead in the match at 2-1.
 
Culmer got the Express off to a good start in the fourth set by scoring a kill to give the Blue and Gold a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for Monroe, Nassau responded with an 8-1 run to take the lead for good on its way to the 25-10 vwin in the fourth set to clinch the Region 15 victory.
 
For the Express, freshman outside hitter Juan Arias produced four digs. Frazier added two digs and a block. Freshman opposite hitter Elvis Ndubuisi chipped in on defense with a pair of digs of his own.  Classmate Mickey Mingo tallied a dig, while rookie middle blocker Domingo Brito provided a kill.
 
For the Lions, freshman opposite hitter Brian Sandmeier tallied a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, while scoring five service aces and adding three assists. 
 
Monroe – Bronx and Nassau will have a Region 15 rematch on Friday evening, this time on the campus of Nassau Community College beginning at 7:00 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).