GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team earned a pair of hard-fought Region 15 victories on Saturday afternoon. Monroe won the first contest over Rockland Community College, 3-1, and then defeated Westchester Community College in a five-set thriller. Both matches took place at the Nassau Community College Main Gym.
 
"We were able to pull through," Express Head Women's Volleyball Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "The Express keep pushing aboard."
 
In the four-set victory over Rockland, the scores were 25-12, 25-20, 19-25, and 25-18. Freshman outside hitter Aleishka Diaz produced a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs, while scoring a trio of service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Nisa Llanos also had a strong match by slamming home eight kills and recording two blocks. Rookie outside hitter Gabriela De La Rosa added five put downs, three service aces, and anchored the defense with 14 digs. 
 
Also helping the Blue and Gold against the Hawks was sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Nolasco who generated five kills, a duo of service aces, and just as many digs. Second-year libero Yasmel Molina had a strong contest defensively with 12 digs, while nailing three aces and providing a pair of helpers on the offensive end. Sophomore setter Serena Bueno added a team-high 18 assists and six digs, while rookie defensive specialist Julia Ramos led the Express with five service aces and provided nine digs. Second-year opposite hitter Princess Corona had five kills, three digs, and a service ace. Sophomore libero Arielys Colon helped on defense with five digs.
 
In Monroe's five-set victory over Westchester, set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 22-25, and 17-15. Diaz had another strong outing, this time by producing 17 kills and 19 digs, both team highs. Her hitting percentage was .302. De La Rosa tallied nine successful attacks, five digs, and four service aces.
 
Nolasco played a huge role in the Express' five-set victory over the Vikings by providing seven kills, five blocks, and two digs. Llanos chipped in with four kills and five blocks. Molina was a defensive juggernaut once again with 18 digs, while scoring two service aces to pace the offense. Ramos helped with 17 assists and five digs, while Bueno recorded 14 assists and five digs of her own. Corona had a solid match with four kills, eight digs, and three assists. Colon added seven digs, while classmate Kaileex Batista notched five digs. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will have a Region 15 showdown with Queensborough Community College, out in Bayside, N.Y., on Tuesday evening. First serve at Robert F. Kennedy Gymnasium is set for 6:00 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).