GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team earned a big-time Region 15 victory on the road in five sets over the defending regional champion Nassau Community College Lions. Set scores were 19-25, 25-13, 25-23, 19-25, and 15-4.

The Lions were undefeated in regional play coming into this contest but thanks to the Express, Nassau is now 7-1 in the region and 9-4 overall. The Express bump their record to 4-1 against regional opponents and 7-3 for the season.

"Great win for the Express!" Monroe Head Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "Proud of this group for staying composed and pushing through against the (reigning) region champions. Once they found their rhythm, they played Express volleyball – fast, fearless, and together."

Leading the way for the Express was Cherlialix Carmona who produced a double-double with 24 kills and 13 digs, while scoring five service aces. Gabriela De La Rosa also had 13 defensive bumps, plus she contributed with eight putdowns and a trio of aces. Aleishka Diaz anchored the defense with a team-high 21 digs, while setting up the attack with nine assists. She also scored two aces. Julia Ramos compiled a match-high 20 helpers and also recorded eight digs, five service victories, and a duo of kills. 

After dropping the first set, Monroe came storming out of the gate in the second by jumping out to a 3-0 lead thanks to back-to-back kills by Carmona. The Express never allowed the Lions to tie it for the remainder of the set, as the Blue and Gold went on to earn the second-game victory in convincing fashion, 25-13.

The third set was a completely different story as Nassau battled back from a 15-5 deficit to slice the Express' advantage to 23-22. With the momentum of the match in the balance, Yamelyn Bonilla stopped the Lions' surge by slamming a timely kill to give Monroe a set-point opportunity at 24-22. Nassau won the next point but then Sarai Hernandez guided the Express to the set-victory by knocking down a successful attack through the opposing defense to give Monroe a 2-1 lead in the match.

Nassau started the fourth frame on fire by jumping out to a 10-3 hold. Monroe tried to battle back but the early deficit was too much as the Lions went on to win the stanza, 25-19, to force a fifth and deciding game.

The Express set the tone from the very start of the rubber game as three service aces by Ramos and a kill courtesy of Carmona helped put Monroe up 5-0. Nassau won three of the next five rallies to pull to within a 7-3 deficit. However, the Express racked off four consecutive points, thanks to back-to-back putdowns by Carmona, an ace from Diaz, and a successful attack by Hernandez, to pad their lead to 11-3. Nassau earned the next point but then the Blue and Gold finishes strong by scoring four unanswered points, capped off by a block from Hernandez, to clinch the crucial regional road win for the Express in five sets.

For Monroe, Brycelynn Paul had a strong match defensively with 10 digs, while adding two kills on offense. Hernandez finished with seven kills, four digs, two aces, and a pair of blocks. Kaileex Batista provided 11 assists, three digs, and two aces. Robyn Eddy had a solid match with three kills, two blocks, and just as many defensive bumps. Ayleenee Lopez generated four digs. Bonilla chipped in with two kills and a block.

Monroe will continue Region 15 play on Tuesday against LaGuardia Community College. First serve at Monsignor Scanlan Gym will be at 7 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).