NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 22, 2018 – After celebrating the careers in Royal and Gold of the team's six sophomores in a Sophomore Night celebration, the Monroe College women's volleyball team swept Nassau Community College in three sets Monday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex in the Mustangs' final home match of the season. Monroe improves to 13-9 on the year with the win, while Nassau falls to 22-11.
 
The Mustangs recognized their six sophomores, Cristina Robles, Nashally Eleutiza, Alexis Baer, Maria Camila Salazar, Karla Figueroa and Daline Rios, prior to the start of Monday's match in a Sophomore Night ceremony to thank and congratulate them for everything they have done for the program over the past two seasons.
 
The Mustangs quickly ran out to a 10-3 lead in the first set, forcing Nassau to use its first timeout of the evening. Before long, the Mustangs used a 9-0 run to go up, 21-7, forcing another timeout by the Lions. Monroe wrapped things up with the final four points to claim a 25-7 win in the opening game.
 
The second set started off much closer, as an 8-7 Mustang lead saw Monroe use a timeout to regroup. Monroe then rattled off the next seven points to go up, 15-7. The Mustangs then took a 17-8 advantage, causing the Lions to use their timeout. The Mustangs took the next four points before Nassau got back on the board to make it 21-9. It was 23-11 before the Mustangs took the last two, earning a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-11 victory.
 
Right before the third set, Head Coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes told injured sophomore Alexis Baer that she would be starting the third frame for the Mustangs. The emotional moment led to an uproar from her teammates and peers, as she was subbed off the court to a round of applause.


 
The Mustangs took control of the third set early on, picking up the first four points. They were up 8-2 before the Lions got two points back to draw within four. The Lions continued to push the Mustangs, getting within three at 11-8. Monroe then turned it around to go on a 5-1 run and take a 16-9 edge. Nassau took the next point to get within six, but the Mustangs locked down, scoring the final nine points to take a 25-10 win to wrap up the match.
 
Salazar had an impressive evening, hitting .625 with a team-high 11 kills and a pair of blocks in the win. Jaddy Duarte picked up the kill on all five of her swings for a 1.000 hitting percentage. Tereza Strnadlova had six kills and hit .556. Maryorie Cruz Baez dished out 13 assists and registered three kills. Eleutiza led the team with 13 digs and also served up a team-best five aces.
 
The Mustangs are now set for the 2018 Regional Championship match at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md., on Friday, Oct. 26, where the Mustangs will look to claim their eighth straight Region Championship. Friday's match is set to begin at 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).