NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx men's volleyball team dropped its regular season finale to Borough of Manhattan Community College in Region 15 play, 3-0, at Monroe Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-20, 25-22, and 34-32.

The Express (9-17, 3-5 Region 15) clinch the No. 4 seed and will battle fifth-seeded Kingsborough Community College in the Region 15 Play-In Match on Tuesday at Monroe Athletic Complex. First serve is at 7:00 p.m. BMCC (5-8, 3-5 Region 15) earns the No. 3 seed and will compete in the regional semifinals next Saturday afternoon. 

Monroe jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening set, but Borough of Manhattan went on a 7-2 run to take the lead. The Express fought back as consecutive kills by Edwin Ortega and Marvin Culmer tied it up at seven. The Panthers scored the next two points to take a lead they did not relinquish for the remainder of the stanza.

In the second set, Darren Lopez provided a kill and two service aces to help catapult the Express to a 6-3 benefit. Later in the frame, back-to-back putdowns by Ortega extended Monroe's advantage to 10-6. The Express held a 16-13 edge, but Borough of Manhattan snatched the momentum by scoring six straight points to jump out in front, 19-16. Monroe did not go down quietly as the Blue and Gold went on a 5-3 run to narrow the opposition's lead to 22-21. BMCC finished the set strong by scoring three out of the final four points to win the frame and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Monroe – Bronx appeared to be in good shape during the third set as a kill by Mickey Mingo gave his team a 21-17 lead. The Panthers responded with five straight points to snatch a one-point advantage. Monroe responded with two straight points, capped off by a service ace from Wiltor Cubas, to take the lead back at 23-22. BMCC rallied with two consecutive scores to earn a match-point opportunity at 24-23. Monroe tied the game, fell behind by one, and then evened it up once again. 

Thanks to an error by the Panthers, the Express earned their first set-point opportunity of the afternoon at 26-25. The Panthers tied it, Monroe went back in front, BMCC stayed alive, and Monroe once again earned a chance to win the set by taking a 28-27 advantage. Borough of Manhattan answered with two straight points to reclaim a match-point chance at 29-28. The Blue and Gold took advantage of two attack errors by the opposition to claim its fourth set-point opportunity of the stanza. Each team split the next four points, 2-2, which gave Monroe a 32-31 edge and its sixth chance to close out the set. However, BMCC scored the final three points, capped off by a kill from Mansur Lechiev, to clinch the set, the match, and a berth in the Region 15 Semifinals.

For the Express, Lopez provided four kills, 16 digs, and a pair of aces. Jeremy Rivera-Aponte notched seven kills and six digs. Ortega also had seven kills and compiled five defense bumps. Aiverson Guillen tallied seven digs, while Harold Romero chipped in on defense with six digs. David Garcia helped with eight assists and a duo of digs, while Cubas produced seven helpers and a pair of aces.

For the Panthers, Lechiev had a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs, while adding three blocks and producing a hitting percentage of .333. Ching Lin Li produced 13 kills and seven digs. Bradley Campos led all players with 19 digs. Miguel Trejo added a match-best 31 assists, slammed home two kills, and recorded five digs.

For updates regarding Monroe's regional play-in match on Tuesday, check out 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. 
 
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