BAYSIDE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team secured a straight-set Region 15 victory on the road over Queensborough Community College. Scores were 25-18, 25-23, and 25-15. The contest took place at RFK Gymnasium.

The Express extend their overall winning streak to nine matches and bump their regional record to 9-1 (13-3 in general). 

"Tonight we played with great rhythm and control," Express Head Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "The goal is to keep elevating our game and carry this energy into the playoffs."

Robyn Eddy tallied a career-high 10 kills for the Express and produced a hitting percentage of .438. Cherlialix Carmona had a near double-double with 13 kills and nine digs, produced a hitting percentage of .367, and scored a pair of service aces. Aleishka Diaz led all players with 20 digs, while nailing four aces and providing three assists. Julia Ramos compiled a match-best 18 helpers, chipped in on defense with six digs, and produced a trio of service victories. 

Monroe fell behind 14-9 in the first set but bounced back with 11 unanswered points, highlighted by four service aces from Gabriela De La Rosa and two kills each by Eddy and Carmona, to propel the Blue and Gold to a 20-14 lead. The Tigers (8-9, 6-7 Region 15) could not overcome that run the rest of the stanza as a service ace by Kaileex Batista secured the opening-set victory for Monroe, 25-18.

The Express got off to another slow start in the second game, this time putting themselves in a 17-11 hole. Monroe – Bronx fought back once again as a kill each by De La Rosa and Sarai Hernandez, plus a service ace courtesy of Diaz, keyed a 7-1 run that allowed the Blue and Gold to even it up at 18 points apiece. Queensborough won the next two points to go up 20-18, but then Carmona rifled off three consecutive putdowns to conclude five unanswered scores by the Express to catapult them to a 23-20 advantage. The Tigers earned three of the set's next four points but then committed a setting error to give Monroe a two-set lead in the match.

The third stanza was a bit of a different story as the Express led from wire to wire. The Blue and Gold finished the match by scoring the last four points, capped off by back-to-back aces by Diaz, to secure the sweep and Monroe's ninth Region 15 win of the year.

Helping the Express during the evening was De La Rosa who notched four kills, five aces, and just as many digs. Hernandez added four putdowns, while Brycelynn Paul finished with seven defensive bumps. Batista added 11 assists and two digs. 

Monroe will compete in a pair of Region 15 matches against local rivals on the campus of Nassau Community College on Saturday afternoon. The Express will take on Bronx Community College at 12 p.m. and then battle Hostos Community College at approximately 1:30 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).