Madison, Wis. – The Monroe College volleyball team opened its 2016 campaign with an appearance at the South Suburban Tournament in Madison, Wisconsin over the weekend.  The Mustangs went 1-3, highlighted by a three-set victory over Macomb Community College.
 
The opening match saw Monroe fall to Parkland College, 3-0.  The scores for the sets were 25-16, 25-12, and 25-21.  Kathrin Pasel, a freshman from Germany, led the Mustangs with seven kills and seven digs in the match.  Carla Souffront, in her first action with the team, posted a team-best of 10 assists.
 
Monroe fell in the second match to Indian Hills Community College by another 3-0 score.  The final tallies were 25-17, 25-22, and 25-19.  Cristen Coryatt posted her first double-double of the season with a team-best 10 kills and 14 digs.  Neysha Gonzalez totaled 20 digs, while Pasel accumulated 10 kills and 6 digs.
 
The Mustangs took a set in the third match before losing to Kansas City Community College, 3-1.  Monroe won the second set, 25-1, but lost the three others with 25-21, 25-23 and 25-17.  Coryatt had another double-double with 15 kills and a dozen digs.  Pasel finished with 10 and 8, while Souffrant had 28 assists.  In the effort, Gonzalez totaled 22 digs, posting her second straight match with 20+.
 
The final match of the tournament saw Monroe defeat Macomb, 3-0.  The scores were 25-19, 25-20 and 25-14.  A 7-0 run in the opening set, led by Souffrant's strong serve, made the score 22-12 and pushed Monroe to victory.  They jumped ahead to a 10-3 lead in set two and took it by five.  The final set saw the Mustangs build an 11-point cushion before taking the match.
 
In the win, Pasel led the team with 16 kills.  Coryatt added 13.  Gonzalez had her best tally yet with 25 digs, and Gabriela Nobrega posted a match-best 25 assists.
 
The team will return to action on Friday, September 2^nd, at the Owens Community College Tournament in Toledo, Ohio.  They will open play against Waubonsee Community College at 3:15 PM.