POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – For the fourth year in a row, the Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team has captured a district championship and earned an automatic bid into the NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball National Tournament. This time, the #3-seeded Express defeated #2-seeded Fashion Institute of Technology in a five-set thriller in the Region 15 Semifinal to capture the North Atlantic B District Championship. 

Monroe dropped the Region 15 Championship match to fourth-seeded Westchester Community College, 3-1, but the Express already punched their ticket to nationals. The Vikings not only win the Region 15 Championship but the North Atlantic A District Championship as well and will join the Blue and Gold in the NJCAA Tournament, which will take place from November 13 until November 15, out in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

The NJCAA Selection Show will take place on Tuesday, at 6 p.m. eastern time., on the NJCAA Network. It will reveal the full NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament bracket. 

"Clinching our spot in the national tournament in Iowa!" Express Head Coach Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "It's been a season full of ups and downs, but these ladies never stopped fighting. The mental battles caught up at times, yet their work, growth, and determination earned them this moment. Proud and grateful for all they've accomplished."

Cherlialix Carmona and Aleishka Diaz of the Express were named to the Region 15 All-Tournament team.

In Monroe's big win over the Tigers (19-2), set scores were 25-22, 25-16, 27-29, 23-25, and 15-12.

The Express (20-5) won the first two games and were on the verge of the district championship as they had a match-point opportunity at 24-21 in the third stanza. The Tigers turned it around and rifled off three straight points to tie it up at 24. Monroe was able to regain the lead at 25-24 but then FIT tied it again. Robyn Eddy allowed Monroe to answer back with a kill to give her team its fifth match-point position of the contest. The Tigers once again snatched momentum by winning two consecutive rallies to take a 27-26 edge. However, FIT committed a setting error which allowed Monroe to even it up at 27. Unfortunately for Monroe, Beatriz Vidal slammed a kill and then the Express committed a bad set to clinch a remarkable come-from-behind third-set victory for Fashion Institute, 29-27, to stay alive in the match and cut the Express' lead to 2-1.

Monroe seemed to be closing in on the championship again in the fourth set as a kill by Gabriela De La Rosa gave her team a 22-18 advantage. Once again, FIT answered with a rally, this time with five straight points to catapult to a 23-22 edge. An error by the Tigers tied it up at 23. However, the Express committed two straight errors to drop the fourth set, 25-23, and make a fifth and deciding game necessary with a trip to nationals on the line. 

It went from bad to worse for Monroe in the fifth set as a kill and ace by Vidal, a putdown by Riley Budenas, and a successful attack by Vidal gave FIT an 8-5 advantage.

However, the Express began to show why they won three consecutive district championships. Carmona and De La Rosa knocked down kills to pull Monroe to within one. Then, an error on the attack from FIT allowed the Blue and Gold to tie it. Monroe's momentum continued to grow as an ace from Carmona, a kill by Yamelyn Bonilla, and a putdown by De La Rosa propelled the Express to an 11-8 lead. 

FIT once again did not go quietly and rattled off three unanswered points to tie it up. The Express countered with three straight rally-victories, capped off by an ace from Sarai Hernandez and a kill by Eddy, to give Monroe a match-point opportunity at 14-11. FIT scored the next point, hoping for another miracle comeback. However, the Tigers' next serve sailed out of bounds and the Express punched their ticket to the NJCAA Tournament. 

Leading the way for Monroe – Bronx was Carmona who slammed a match-high 19 kills and provided 16 digs for the double-double. She also added three service aces and had a hitting percentage of .250. Diaz also had a double-double with 23 digs and a career-high 12 assists, while scoring six aces. De La Rosa compiled 15 kills, seven defensive bumps, and a pair of service victories. 

Also helping Monroe was Eddy who notched eight kills, four blocks, and a duo of digs. Hernandez added a match-high seven blocks, scored four kills, and nailed a trio of aces. Kaileex Batista was another Express player who had a double-double with 17 assists and 13 digs, while earning three service wins. Ayleenee Lopez produced seven successful attacks, just as many defensive bumps, and two blocks. Julia Ramos generated a 22-assist and 10-dig double-double. Bonilla provided four kills and two digs. Brycelynn Paul chipped in on defense with eight bumps. 

In the championship match against Westchester (20-3), set scores were 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, and 25-15.

For the Vikings, Ziacera Sexton was named the Most Valuable Player of the Region 15 Tournament as she slammed eight kills, recorded 21 digs, provided five blocks, delivered three assists, and scored two service aces during the regional championship match.

For the Express, Carmona slammed 22 kills, leading all players, while recording nine digs. Diaz generated 23 defensive bumps, seven helpers, and a trio of aces. De La Rosa had another strong match with eight putdowns, three digs, and two service wins. Ramos had another double-double with 17 assists and 14 digs, along with four aces, while Batista had a near double-double with 15 assists and nine bumps. Lopez added five kills and three digs, while Paul had another solid effort on defense with nine digs. 

For updates regarding the upcoming NJCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament, 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).