CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team put up strong efforts against two top ten teams in the country but fell to both No. 8 Hudson Valley Community College and No. 7 Finger Lakes Community College. Set scores against the Vikings were 25-6, 27-25, and 29-27. The scores against the host-Lakers were 25-18, 25-23, and 25-9. Both matches took place at Putt Moore Gymnasium.
"This weekend, we faced tough competition and proved we can compete and play great volleyball," Express Head Coach
Odaly Aponte-Orta said. "Our biggest challenge remains closing out sets, staying mentally tough, and learning to reset when facing point deficits. The talent is there; now it's about building the mindset to finish strong. Every challenge is a lesson; every setback is growth. We keep fighting, keep believing, and trusting the process!"
In the opening match against Hudson Valley (19-2), the Vikings won the first set in wire-to-wire fashion.
The second stanza was a different story as a pair of service aces by
Darilenia Paulino helped the Express (11-7) jump out to a 4-0 advantage. Later in the frame, after Hudson Valley closed the gap,
Nicole Garrett produced back-to-back aces to expand the Blue and Gold's surplus to 10-6. The Vikings answered with six unanswered points, capped by a kill from Brooke Poutre, to put the Express in a two-point deficit in the blink of an eye. After both teams split the next two rallies, Monroe claimed the next six points. The run ended with a kill courtesy of
Ayleenee Salbitani Lopez to put the Blue and Gold up 17-13.
The Vikings cut the deficit to 17-16, but then Monroe responded with a 6-2 blitz to extend its lead to 23-18. Hudson Valley got the next point but then Garrett drilled a putdown to give the Express a set-point opportunity at 24-19.
Hudson Valley changed the tide rapidly as a kill by Ella Halpin kept her team alive. Then, the Vikings eventually cut the deficit to 24-23, thanks in part to kills by Halpin and Poutre. Monroe had another chance to close it out but an ace by Madison LaCouture allowed Hudson Valley to tie it up at 24. Monroe then committed an error on the attack to fall behind 25-24.
Now on the wrong end of a set-point situation, Monroe answered as Paulino pushed the ball up and then
Yamelyn Bonilla slammed it through the opposing defense and on the floor for the kill which tied it up at 25. However, Poutre and Avery McPherson combined for back-to-back kills to give Hudson Valley the 27-25 comeback win in Set 2 and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Monroe – Bronx shook off the rough end to the second game and got off to a strong start in the third as a kill by Bonilla gave the Blue and Gold a 13-10 advantage. Hudson Valley scored the next two points but then Bonilla provided another putdown to extend Monroe – Bronx's lead to 14-12. Hudson Valley countered and went on a run of six straight points to jump out to an 18-14 advantage.
The Express fell behind, 23-19, but then they took their turn to make a run. After getting the benefit of an opposing service error, Bonilla slammed two consecutive kills to slice Monroe's deficit to one. However, Hudson Valley scored the next point to earn a set-point opportunity.
Sarai Hernandez stepped up for the Express and scored two straight putdowns to even the match at 24 points apiece. After the Vikings scored the next point, they committed two straight errors on the attack to give the Express a set-point opportunity at 26-25. Unfortunately for Monroe, the Blue and Gold surrendered the next two rallies to fall behind 27-26.
The Express stayed alive with a kill from Bonilla to even it up once again. However, Poutre of Hudson Valley closed it out with a kill and then a service ace to clinch the victory for the Vikings in Set 3, 29-27, and the win in the overall match, 3-0.
Leading the way for Monroe - Bronx was Bonilla who tallied nine kills and six digs.
Robyn Eddy notched six kills of her own. Salbitani Lopez provided six kills and seven digs. Paulino compiled 23 assists, four digs, and two service victories. Hernandez tallied four kills, three defensive bumps, and two helpers.
Jopnerys Espinal Chalas anchored the defense with nine digs, while
Brycelynn Paul recorded six defensive bumps. Garrett added two kills, a duo of defensive bumps, and a pair of service aces.
For Hudson Valley, Poutre had a match-high 12 kills and added three digs. McPherson generated nine kills, match-highs of 10 digs and four blocks, and added a duo of service aces. Angelina O'Leary led all players with 30 assists, while providing three kills, a trio of aces, and just as many digs. Reagan Jablonowski scored six service aces and added three attack-neutralizing bumps. LaCouture chipped in with five kills, just as many digs, three aces, and a trio of assists.
In the second match of the day, The Express got off to a great start in the first set against Finger Lakes (27-1) in the opening set by jumping out to a 10-4 advantage. However, the Lakers rallied to win the opening set, 25-18. The hosts won a tight second set, 25-23, and then closed it out in the third set with a 25-9 victory to earn the sweep.
Leading the way for Monroe was Salbitani Lopez who compiled five kills and 13 digs. Paulino tallied a double-double with 13 assists and 11 defensive bumps, while adding two blocks. Espinal Chalas anchored the defense with nine digs. Bonilla registered three kills and eight digs, while Hernandez recorded three putdowns and just as many blocks. Garrett also tallied three blocks, while slamming two kills and adding three digs. Eddy provided three successful attacks and a trio of blocks. Paul scored three aces and chipped in on defense with three digs.
Note: Stats were done manually for the Monroe-Finger Lakes match, and no play-by-play information was available.
Monroe – Bronx will battle Queensborough Community College, in Region 15 action, on Wednesday evening. First serve at RFK Gymnasium, in Bayside, N.Y., will take place at 7 p.m.
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