BRONX – The Monroe University – Bronx women's volleyball team suffered a non-region loss in its home opener to Union County College New Jersey, in straight sets, at Roberto Clemente State Park Gymnasium on Thursday evening.
Set scores were 25-20, 25-14, and 25-17.
The Express (2-1) held 2-0, 3-1, and 4-3 leads in the opening set. The first frame featured 10 different tie scores. The latest deadlock occurred when
Robyn Eddy slammed a kill for the Express to even the game at 20 points apiece. However, the Owls (1-0) finished the set strong with five straight points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Yamelyn Bonilla helped the Express with back-to-back service aces to give the Blue and Gold a 7-6 edge in the second stanza. However, Union County won 10 straight points to put Monroe in a 16-7 hole.
Nicole Garrett got her team back in it with three consecutive service victories to cap a 4-0 run and narrow the Express' disadvantage to 16-11. Unfortunately for Monroe, Union County won nine of the set's last 12 rallies, capped by back-to-back kills from Diana Perez, to propel the visiting team to a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third game had seven different tie scores during its early stages. However, Union County never trailed in the third and final frame as a kill by Cydney Eaddy began a run of five straight points for the Owls to help them pull away and extend their advantage to 23-16. Monroe won the next rally, but then Union County closed it out as a putdown from Perez and then an ace by Karla Duarte clinched the overall match victory for the Owls in straight sets.
Leading the way for the Express was
Ayleenee Salbitani Lopez who registered five kills and 10 digs during the evening.
Brycelynn Paul anchored the defense with nine digs. Bonilla had a solid evening with three kills, just a many defensive bumps, two aces, and a pair of assists.
Darilenia Paulino tallied five assists, two digs, and just as many service victories.
Jessica Desruisseaux added five defensive bumps and two helpers.
Jopnerys Espinal Chalas added three digs, two aces, a duo of assists, and one kill in her collegiate debut. Eddy finished with two kills and a block.
For Union County, Perez generated 10 kills and nine digs. Duarte also had 10 kills, while providing five digs and a pair of service victories. Eaddy slammed eight kills, racked up three blocks, provided three assists, and recorded two digs. Maya Kukielko compiled 27 assists, six digs, and a trio of service aces. Mary Campos added seven digs and three assists. Betina Cardozo had a solid evening with five aces, four kills, and six digs.
Monroe – Bronx will compete in a pair of Region 15 matches on Saturday afternoon at Rockland Community College. The Express will battle the host-Hawks at noon and then take on the defending Region 15 Champion Westchester Community College at approximately 1:30 p.m.
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