THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – In a battle of nationally ranked teams, the No. 8 Monroe University – Bronx men's volleyball team fell in a very competitive Region 15 match to No. 3 Nassau Community College, 3-1, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium on Tuesday evening. Set scores were 25-14, 23-25, 28-26, and 26-24.

The Express drop to 13-8 overall and 4-4 in the region, while the defending regional champion and 2025 NJCAA National Invitational runner-up Lions advance to 14-2 overall and 8-0 against regional opponents.

Nassau never trailed in the first set on its way to the 25-14 win to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Express raised their level after falling behind 19-13 in the second set. A kill by Steven Francis Ouellet sparked a 7-0 run by Monroe and it was capped by a putdown from Darren Lopez which gave the Blue and Gold a 21-20 edge. After that, the Express scored two of the next three points to go up by a score of 23-21. The Lions responded as back-to-back kills by Thomas Wildeman and Johncarlo Rivera tied it at 23. However, the Express finished strong as a putdown by Ouellet capped a 2-0 run to clinch the stanza for the Blue and Gold, 25-23, and even the match at a game apiece. 

Monroe – Bronx had the lead for the majority of the third set as a kill by Fidel Ramirez made it 23-21 in favor of the Express. Nassau scored the next two points to tie it up. Ramirez struck again with a successful attack to earn Monroe a set-point opportunity at 24-23. After the Lions knotted it up, Darren Lopez slammed the ball through the opponent's defense to give the Express their second set-point opportunity at 25-24. Once again, the Lions evened it up. Frandie Martin slammed a kill to give Monroe its third game-point chance at 26-25. Unfortunately for the Blue and Gold, Nassau scored three points in a row to earn the comeback win in the set, 28-26, and a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Lions jumped out to a 16-11 benefit in the fourth game. The Express battled back with a 7-2 run, concluded by a kill from Ouellet, that evened the stanza at 18. Nassau responded by winning four of the next five rallies, capped by a kill from Joseph Woods, to put Monroe in a 22-19 hole. After each team split the next two rallies, Monroe went on a 4-1 run, highlighted by two kills and service ace from Darren Lopez to even the set at 24. However, Nassau finished strong with two straight points, ending with a kill from Wideman, to clinch a narrow 26-24 win in the fourth set and a 3-1 match-victory for Nassau. 

Leading the way for the Express was Darren Lopez who compiled seven kills, 10 digs, and a pair of service aces. Ouellet tallied nine kills, three blocks, and just as many digs. Ramirez notched nine putdowns and four defensive bumps. Johnnovan Reyes generated 15 assists and five digs. Edwin Ortega recorded four kills, four blocks, and two digs. David Garcia added 10 assists and a trio of defensive bumps. Martin slammed four putdowns, while Pedro Bello Lopez pushed up four digs. J'Adon George also tallied four attack-neutralizing bumps. 

For Nassau, Woods had a monster outing with a match-high 18 kills, while compiling five digs, a pair of service aces, and a duo of blocks. Rivera generated 12 kills, four aces, three blocks, and just as many digs. Wildeman provided 10 kills, nine digs, and four service victories. Dom Cieleski led all players with 44 assists. Ismael Nunez anchored the defense with 10 digs. Tristan Harrison provided four kills, nine digs, and two aces. 

Monroe – Bronx will play a pair of Region 15 matches on the campus of Nassau Community College on Saturday. The Express will take on Kingsborough Community College at noon and then battle national ranked No. 9 Monroe University – New Rochelle at around 2 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.

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).