The Monroe Mustangs women's volleyball team played against some tough competition at the Florida State at Jacksonville Tournament this weekend and the results showed.  After defeating Hillsborough, 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-22), on Friday afternoon, the #12-ranked Mustangs had their 23-match winning streak stopped with a 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 17-25) loss to #7-ranked Central Florida in the weekend's second match.
 
They defeated the host team in an epic comeback win 3-2 (22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-12, 15-6) on Saturday, but lost the weekend finale 1-3 (17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25) to Polk State.  They're now 30-4 on the season.
 
"This was a tough weekend of volleyball and our mixed results reflected that," said Coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes.  "But there is no better way to prepare for the post season than playing top-flight competition."
 
Against Hillsborough sophomore Edmarie Freytes had 21 asissts and the nation's leader in service aces added four to her total.  She had a total of nine in the four Florida matches  Sophomore Lee Ann Ocasio had 16 kills.
 
Freshman Ashley Ramos was the kills leader in the defeat against the College of Central Florida with 13.
 
The win over Jacksonville was remarkable.  Monroe rebounded from a 0-2 deficit to win three straight sets.  It was reminiscent of the season's first home win against Lee College, when they did the same thing.
 
"It's a very good sign that even when we're down on the road, we have the poise and determination to come all the way back," said Coach Delgado Reyes.  "With the post season coming up, this situation will happen again and we will have some confidence that we can get it done."
 
Both Ocasio and freshman Barbara Maximiano were brilliant.  Ocasio was 18/34 (.353) in kills and Maximiano had fewer kills, but a better percentage:  13/23 (.478).
 
Freytes has 28 assists against Polk and Nelmarie Cruz was the kills leader with 16.