GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 14 Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team closed out the 2025 regular season by splitting its two Region 15 Double Dual matches on the campus of Nassau Community College on Saturday afternoon.

The Express dropped the first match to then-undefeated and nationally ranked No. 12 Fashion Institute of Technology in straight sets. Monroe bounced back to defeat Borough of Manhattan Community College, 3-0.

The Express finish the regular season with a 14-2 record in regional play (18-4 overall) and have clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Region 15 Tournament. Monroe will take on sixth-seeded Orange County Community College in the quarterfinal round of the Region 15 Playoffs on Thursday at the Monroe Athletic Complex beginning at 7 p.m. 

In the Express' loss against the Tigers, set scores were 25-22, 25-21, and 25-17. 

Monroe had a 14-7 lead over FIT in the opening set, but the Tigers went on an 11-3 run to jump out in front. Monroe answered by winning three of the next four points to recapture the advantage at 20-19. However, the Tigers finished the game with a 6-2 blitz to claim a 1-0 edge in the match. 

In the second stanza, Monroe jumped out to a 17-15 vantage. Once again, the Tigers rallied but this time with a 6-2 run to catapult to a 21-19 benefit. Monroe fought back as Kaileex Batista delivered a kill to narrow the deficit to 22-21. Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, Rosa DiTaranto slammed two kills to highlight a 3-0 run that gave FIT the win in the second game and a 2-0 advantage in the contest.

The Express never held a lead in the third frame as FIT won it, 25-17, to win the battle of nationally ranked teams in straight sets.

Later in the afternoon, the Tigers dropped a 3-1 match to Nassau Community College to fall to 14-1 in the region (17-1 overall) and will enter the regional postseason as the second seed. The Lions will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. 

In the Monroe's match against FIT, Cherlialix Carmona tallied eight kills, 12 digs, and three service aces. Gabriela De La Rosa produced six successful attacks and just as many defensive bumps. Robyn Eddy produced four kills and three blocks. Aleishka Diaz anchored the defense with 18 digs and added two aces. Brycelynn Paul registered nine digs. Batista and Julia Ramos each had eight 10 assists with the former scoring three aces and two kills, while providing six bumps on defense. 

In the Express' victory over BMCC (7-11, 6-9 Region 15), set scores were 25-11, 25-17, and 25-15.

The only time Monroe trailed in the match was a 2-1 score in the first set. The Express rallied with a 6-1 run, capped off by kills from Carmona and Sarai Hernandez, to jump out to a 7-3 benefit. The Blue and Gold never fell behind again the rest of the afternoon and earned wire-to-wire victories in the second and third stanzas to close out the regular season with a Region 15 victory.

Carmona once again led the attack with 10 kills (.556 hitting percentage) and recorded three digs with two service aces. Diaz played outside hitter (as opposed to libero) and generated nine kills, seven aces, and four digs. Paul anchored the defense with a match-best 11 digs. Ramos added 16 assists, six defensive bumps, and a pair of service victories. Batista tallied six helpers and three aces. Hernandez finished with a trio of putdowns and a pair of wins on the serve. De La Rosa compiled three kills.

For updates regarding Monroe – Bronx's run in the Region 15 Postseason, check out www.MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels. 

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).