CRANFORD, N.J. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team earned a hard-fought victory over Union County of New Jersey, 3-1, at Union College Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, and 25-18.
 
"They pushed hard to the end to get the victory," Express Head Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "They did a good job. It's amazing how the (players) are coming along."
 
Leading the way for the Express (2-2) was sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Nolasco who slammed home a match-high nine kills, scored three service aces, and had just as many blocks. Second-year libero Yasmel Molina anchored the defense with 12 digs and chipped in on offense with a pair of service aces. Rookie outside hitter Aleishka Diaz generated six kills, seven digs, and two service aces. Classmate Gabriela De La Rosa tallied four kills, seven digs, and four service aces. First-year defensive specialist Julia Ramos had a solid match with 16 assists, five service aces, and four digs. 
 
Monroe got off to a great start in the opening set as a kill by Diaz gave the Blue and Gold a 6-1 advantage. Later in the stanza, back-to-back kills by Nolasco and sophomore opposite hitter Shirley Garo extended the Express' cushion to 12-4. However, Union County (1-1) came storming back by going on an 11-3 run to tie the contest, 15-15, in the blink of an eye. After each team added a point, the Express got back on track with a 3-1 run, highlighted by a put down from Nolasco, to help Monroe regain the lead at 20-17. The Owls scored the next three points to even it up. Monroe – Bronx once again grabbed the momentum as the Blue and Gold scored four points in a row, highlighted by an ace courtesy of Diaz and a kill each from Nolasco and De La Rosa, to earn the Express a set-point opportunity at 24-20. Union stayed alive by scoring the next two points, but then committed an error on the attack to clinch the first set for Monroe, 25-22. 
 
Union County never trailed at any point in the second set and finished the stanza with a 5-1 run, capped off by a service ace from sophomore outside hitter Kayla Carter, to allow the home team to even the match at one game apiece. 
 
Monroe – Bronx bounced back and got off to a strong start in the third frame, as two service aces by De La Rosa and an ace by Diaz propelled the Express to a 10-5 benefit. UCNJ responded with a 6-0 blitz to jump out in front by one. Monroe regained its composure by scoring four of the game's next five points, highlighted by Nolasco's service ace, to retake the lead at 14-12. The Express scored eight of the set's final 11 points to pull away for the victory in the third game, 25-18, to take its second match lead of the afternoon at 2-1.
 
The Owls started the fourth set on fire by jumping out to a 5-1 advantage. The Express then scored the next two points to pull to within two. After Union County earned the next point, the Blue and Gold took over by scoring the next six points to catapult to a 9-6 edge. Sophomore right side hitter Princess Corona began the set-altering run with a kill and then Ramos capped it off with three consecutive aces. Monroe kept the lead for the remainder of the afternoon. Union got close to tying it a few times but the Express pulled away with a 7-2 surge thanks to two aces each by Molina and freshman defensive specialist Kaileex Batista, as well as a pair of kills courtesy of Diaz, to inflate Monroe's vantage to 22-15. Later in the frame, a kill by Molina gave her team a set-point opportunity at 24-17. Union County scored the next point but then committed a service error to clinch the set and the match for the Express.
 
For Monroe during the afternoon, sophomore setter Serena Bueno finished with 11 assists and six digs. Freshman middle blocker Nisa Llanos added six kills and a block. Corona provided four kills and a dig. Garo tallied a duo of kills and just as many blocks. Rookie libero Arielys Colon chipped in on defense with four digs. 
 
For Union County, Carter had a strong match with eight kills, six digs, four service aces, and two blocks. Freshman libero Mia Bonilla led all players with 14 digs to go along with four assists. Sophomore setter Molly Vetter finished the day with 15 assists, three kills, four digs, and a pair of service aces.
 
Monroe – Bronx will have another match in New Jersey on Tuesday, this time against Raritan Valley Community College at The Physical Education Building, beginning at 7:00 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).