GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 8 Monroe University – Bronx men's volleyball team dropped its regional and national encounter to the third-ranked team in the country, Nassau Community College, in straight sets at Nassau Main Gym on Tuesday evening. Set scores were 25-14, 25-20, and 25-21.
 
The Lions remain undefeated in Region 15 play, bumping their regional record to 7-0 (13-2 overall). The Express fall to 4-3 in the region and 10-7 for the season.
 
Nassau earned a wire-to-wire victory in the first set and never trailed at any point in the second stanza.

Monroe had four different leads early in the third game. The third one occurred when Steven Francis Ouellet slammed a kill that capped a 3-0 run and gave the Express an 8-7 edge. After the Lions tied it, Monroe took advantage of a service error for its fourth surplus of the frame, 9-8. The defending Region 15 champions and last year's national invitational runner-up won the next two rallies to regain the upper hand. Monroe reaped the benefits of another Nassau error on the serve to even the set at 10 points apiece.
 
The Lions took off with four straight rally victories to jump out to a 14-10 benefit. After the disadvantage grew to 17-13, Monroe fought back as a kill each by Darren Lopez and Ouellet, plus blocks assists by Frandie Martin and J'Adon George, highlighted a 7-3 run that allowed the Express to even the stanza at 20 points apiece. However, Nassau finished strong with a 5-1 run to clinch the frame and the three-set Region 15 victory.
 
Leading the way for the Express was Darren Lopez who notched eight kills and three digs. Ouellet added six putdowns of his own, along with two defensive bumps. Martin provided five successful attacks. Pedro Bello Lopez anchored the defense with nine digs. Johnnovan Reyes tallied 15 assists, while David Garcia notched eight helpers and four defensive bumps. Fidel Ramirez scored three putdowns.
 
For Nassau, Thomas Wildeman had a big match with 16 kills, five service aces, three digs, and two blocks. Johncarlo Rivera added 11 successful attacks, two blocks, and two helpers, while Dom Cieleski generated 36 assists, four service aces, and four digs. Ismael Nunez anchored the defense with 12 digs, while Daniel Duran neutralized Monroe's attack with 10 defensive bumps. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will host Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on Friday evening. First serve at Monroe Athletic Complex is scheduled for 8 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, 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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