NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 12, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team pushed its winning streak to 11 matches on Saturday, picking up a pair of three-set victories over Richard Bland College and Harford Community College on Day 2 of the Monroe College Volleyball Invitational at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 15-8 on the season with the wins.
 
MATCH 1: MONROE 3, RICHARD BLAND 0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-19)
Monroe got off to a strong start in its opening match on Saturday, rolling to a 10-3 lead. Four straight points later on gave the Mustangs a 15-4 advantage. The Statesmen were within nine at 18-9 before the Mustangs went on a 6-1 run to take a 24-10 advantage. The Statesmen got two more back, but a service error ended the set with a 25-12 score in favor of the Mustangs.
 
Not much changed in the second stanza, as the Mustangs jumped out to an 11-3 edge early on. The Statesmen got back within five at 14-9, but the Mustangs quickly turned it around to go up, 21-12. The Mustangs then wasted no time wrapping up the set with a 25-13 win to go up, 2-0.
 
The Mustangs got the early jump in the third frame, but Richard Bland fired back to take a 6-5 lead. Six straight points by Monroe put the Mustangs on top, 11-6, and they kept that momentum rolling to take a 19-11 advantage. The Mustangs were up, 21-13, but a five-point run by the Statesmen brought the set within three. The Mustangs then regained their rhythm, closing it out with a 25-19 win to take the match in three sets.
 
Giulia La Longa had a team-high nine kills in the match, adding a pair of blocks. Alondra Ramos followed with six kills and a team-best four blocks, adding five digs as well. Masoomeh Angooti had five kills and tied Melanie Orsini for a team-high with eight digs. Orsini served up four of the Mustangs' 14 aces in the win. Alondra Garcia handed out 15 assists, while Yarianne Gonzalez added eight.
 
MATCH 2: MONROE 3, HARFORD 0 (25-17, 25-8, 25-14)
Things got off to a rough start for the Mustangs in their second match, as Harford jumped out to an 8-4 lead early on. The Mustangs then went on a 15-2 run to take a 19-10 advantage. The Fighting Owls did not go down easy, but the Mustangs were able to keep their late momentum going to pick up a 25-17 win for a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The second set got off to a much better start for the Mustangs, as they rattled off 11 straight points to open the new game. The score never got closer than 10 points after that, as the Mustangs galloped to a 25-8 win.
 
The Mustangs and Fighting Owls were neck-and-neck to start the third frame, reaching an 8-8 score early on. Monroe then went on a 10-0 run to take a commanding 18-8 advantage. Harford was able to get back within six at 19-13, but the Mustangs did not let them get any closer, winning the final frame, 25-14.
 
La Longa once again led the Mustangs with 11 kills in the win. Zassmine Birdwell and Lillian Olson each added seven kills. Garcia led with 19 assists and six aces, while Orsini picked up 22 digs.
 
The Mustangs have a busy week ahead of them, beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 15, when they visit Harrisburg Area Community College for a 6 p.m. match in Harrisburg, Pa. They then travel to Blue Bell, Pa., to take on Montgomery County Community College for a 6 p.m. match on Wednesday, Oct. 16. After that, the Mustangs head down to Florida for four matches from Friday to Sunday.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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).