CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The 15^th-seeded Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team competed in the NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Tournament out in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday morning. The Express fell in a very competitive contest to second-seeded and nationally ranked No. 3 Minnesota West Community & Technical College in straight sets. The match took place at Alliant Energy PowerHouse Arena. 

Set scores were 25-22, 25-9, and 25-19. Monroe put up a strong fight against the 2024 National Championship runner-up. 

The Express will now compete in the consolation bracket. The Blue and Gold will battle seventh-seeded and nationally ranked No. 9 Hudson Valley Community College on Friday morning in the same arena beginning at 10 a.m. central time. The winner will move on in the consolation bracket while the non-winner will have its season end.

Monroe (20-6) had a great start in the opening set as two kills by Cherlialix Carmona helped the Express earn a 7-5 lead. The LadyJays (36-4) countered with six straight points to jump out in front. Monroe battled back and pulled to within one. After that, Robyn Eddy and Gabriela De La Rosa provided block assists to tie it up at 14. The Blue and Gold's momentum continued by winning the next two points as well, capped off by a service ace courtesy of Julia Ramos, to give the Express a 16-14 edge. 

Minnesota West answered with a 4-1 run to take an 18-17 vantage. Carmona responded with a kill that sparked two straight points to give Monroe – Bronx the lead again, at 19-18. Each team split the next two points to put Monroe at a 20-19 benefit. The Express lost the next two rallies to fall behind, 21-20, but then scored next to even it up at 21 points apiece. 

Unfortunately for Monroe – Bronx, the LadyJays went on a 4-1 rally to capture the first set, 25-22.

Minnesota West led the second stanza from wire to wire to put Monroe – Bronx in a 2-0 hole.

The Express got off to a strong start in the third set as a putdown by Carmona gave her team a 2-0 advantage. The LadyJays surged back with four unanswered points to jump out in front. Carmona temporarily disrupted their momentum with another kill to inch Monroe – Bronx to within one. Later, with the Express trailing 6-4, Kaileex Batista nailed a service ace that sparked two straight points to even the frame at six points apiece. Each team split the next two rally wins to make it a 7-7 set. After Minnesota West scored three points in a row to take the lead, Monroe countered with two straight to shrink the opposition's advantage to 10-9. 

Minnesota West snatched the momentum with a 9-1 blitz to put Monroe in a 19-11 hole. However, the Express did not go down without a fight as three successful attacks from Carmona, plus a putdown by Sarai Hernandez and an ace from Batista, highlighted a 7-2 run to shrink Monroe's disadvantage to 21-18. Minnesota West scored two in a row to increase Monroe's deficit to five. Yamelyn Bonilla kept Monroe in it with a kill to make it a 23-19 set. However, the LadyJays scored the final two points to punch their ticket to the NJCAA Quarterfinal round. 

For Monroe, Carmona led the way with 11 kills, a .304 hitting percentage, eight digs, and two blocks during the contest. De La Rosa added six putdowns, three defensive bumps, and a duo of blocks. Batista notched seven assists, six digs, and four aces. Ramos provided nine helpers and two digs. Aleishka Diaz compiled five defensive bumps and two providers. Eddy generated two kills and just as many blocks. Brycelynn Paul notched two digs. Bonilla scored two kills and added an attack-neutralizing bump, while Hernandez finished with two blocks, a kill, one service victory, and an assist. Ayleenee Lopez chipped in on defense with a trio of digs. 

For the LadyJays, Sadie Krahling notched a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs, while producing a .500 hitting percentage. Kate Slettum generated 28 assists, four kills, just as many digs, and two aces. Lydia Moore led all players with six service victories and helped on defense with four digs. Kylee Larsen scored six kills, while Aleah Wagner provided three putdowns, eight digs, four aces, and a pair of assists.

For updates regarding Monroe's consolation match against Hudson Valley on Friday, 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, 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).