NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Monroe University-Bronx men's volleyball team faced off against Roxbury Community College in a thrilling doubleheader on March 9, 2025, at Monroe Athletic Complex. After a hard-fought first match, Monroe bounced back in the second contest to take the victory. Here's a breakdown of the action:
 
Game 1: Roxbury Community College (3-7) vs. Monroe University - Bronx (4-14)
 
Roxbury Community College claimed a 3-1 win in a competitive match. The scores were as follows:
 
•                Set 1: Roxbury 25, Monroe 22
•                Set 2: Roxbury 26, Monroe 24
•                Set 3: Monroe 25, Roxbury 19
•                Set 4: Roxbury 25, Monroe 19
                 
Roxbury came out strong, winning the first two sets with a solid offensive attack and exceptional defense. Marc Fleuristal and Hunter Maloney led the charge offensively, while Rodrigo Monteiro anchored the defense with eight blocks. Monroe fought back in the third set, capitalizing on a few Roxbury errors and leveling the match. However, Roxbury regained control in the fourth set, maintaining its steady play to close out the match 3-1.
 
Key Player Performances:
 
•                Monroe:
•                Kills: Jeremy Rivera-Aponte (13), Edwin Ortega (8), Darren Lopez (8)
•                Aces: Lopez (5), Rivera-Aponte (4)
•                Blocks: Marvin Culmer (3), Ortega (3)
•                Assists: David Garcia (26)
•                Digs: Lopez (13), Aiverson Guillen (9)
 
•                Roxbury:
•                Kills: Fleuristal (15), Maloney (10), Monteiro (8)
•                Aces: Fleuristal (4), Komong Yang (3), Johnny Carvalho (3)
•                Blocks: Monteiro (8), Carvalho (2), Maloney (2)
•                Assists: Yang (36)
•                Digs: Raphael Alves (14), Yang (12)
        
Game 2: Monroe University - Bronx (5-14) vs. Roxbury Community College (3-8)
 
In the second match, Monroe University rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2, securing the victory in a dramatic five-set showdown. The scores were:
 
•                Set 1: Roxbury 25, Monroe 23
•                Set 2: Monroe 25, Roxbury 23
•                Set 3: Roxbury 25, Monroe 18
•                Set 4: Monroe 25, Roxbury 23
•                Set 5: Monroe 15, Roxbury 13
            
Roxbury won the first and third sets with strong performances from Fleuristal and Maloney. Monroe found its rhythm in the second and fourth sets. Key contributions from Rivera-Aponte and Lopez helped push the match to a fifth set. 
 
In the decider, Monroe fell behind 4-3 but then Ortega slammed home a kill and Rivera-Aponte added back-to-back putdowns to give the Blue and Gold a 6-4 benefit. Later in the frame, Monroe was nursing an 8-7 edge. The advantage grew bigger thanks to a service ace by Mingo sandwiched between two kills by Lopez to give the Express an 11-7 benefit. 
 
Several rallies later, Ortega produced a successful attack to give the Blue and Gold a set-point opportunity at 14-11. The Tigers scored the next two points to pull to within one. Monroe shut the door on Roxbury's comeback attempt as Mingo broke through Roxbury's defense with a kill to clinch the come-from-behind five-set win for the Express.
 
Yang produced 55 assists for the Tiger during the second match. 
 
Key Player Performances:
 
•                Monroe:
•                Kills: Rivera-Aponte (20), Lopez (17), Ortega (9)
•                Aces: Ortega (2), Lopez (2)
•                Blocks: Ortega (2), Lopez (2)
•                Assists: David Garcia (33)
•                Digs: David Garcia (11), Darren Lopez (10)
 
•                Roxbury:
•                Kills: Fleuristal (22), Maloney (19), Nathan Destouche (9)
•                Aces: Yang (1), Maloney (1), Monteiro (1)
•                Blocks: Jose Moreno (4), Monteiro (3)
•                Assists: Komong Yang (55)
•                Digs: Maloney (15), Alves (11)
 
Up Next: Monroe – Bronx will host Middlesex College in a non-region match on Wednesday at Monsignor Scanlan Gym. First serve is set for 7:00 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). Catch us on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/MonroeExpress.