PRESCOTT, Ariz., August 29, 2019 – After traveling across the country early Thursday morning, the No. 15-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team played its first two matches of the season at the Dalton Overstreet Invitational, hosted by Yavapai College. The Mustangs dropped their opening match to host Yavapai, 3-1, before falling in a close 3-1 decision to Glendale Community College.
 
MATCH 1: YAVAPAI 3, MONROE 1 (25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19)
The Mustangs fell behind early in the match, dropping the first two sets by a matching 25-18 score. Though they were certainly tired, the Mustangs fought back in the third set. A six-point run for the Mustangs put them up, 22-18, but the Roughriders responded with four straight to tie it up. After a 23-23 score, a kill by Alondra Ramos and a block assist by Tereza Strnadlova and Chiara Mottola put the third set away and kept the Mustangs alive in the match.
 
In the fourth frame, an early run for the home team put the Roughriders up, 10-5, giving them a lead they would not forfeit. The Mustangs remained close late in the set, but a 25-19 score closed out the match to give Yavapai the win on its home court.
 
Giulia La Longa led the Mustangs with 11 kills in the match, adding a pair of blocks and a pair of digs. Strnadlova followed with seven kills and a team-high four blocks to go with her five digs. Alondra Garcia dished out a team-high 18 assists, while Yarianne Gonzalez followed with 13 of her own. Melanie Orsini led the Mustangs with 13 digs.
 
MATCH 2: GLENDALE 3, MONROE 1 (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 26-24)
Thursday's finale looked similar to Monroe's first match of the day, seeing the Mustangs fall behind, 2-0. The Mustangs were in trouble when they fell behind, 18-14, but came back after taking four of the next five points to knot it up at 19-19. The set continued to be neck-and-neck until the Mustangs finally came out on top, 28-26, to keep the match going.
 
The Mustangs had control of the fourth frame early on with a 5-2 lead, and eventually went on to go up, 10-5. The Gauchos fought back to tie things up at 12-12. The match went back-and-forth, needing extra points once again to decide the winner, but it was Glendale that came out on top this time around with a 26-24 win to secure the match.
 
La Longa once again led the Mustangs with 15 kills in Thursday's nightcap. Strnadlova and Julia Alves had matching eight-kill, three blocks matches, while Strnadlova added nine digs. Garcia handed out 27 assists, while Orsini led the team with 22 digs and a pair of service aces.
 
The Mustangs will look to shake off the jet lag and bounce back on Friday, Aug. 30, when they take on New Mexico Military Institute at 2 p.m. EST, followed by an 8 p.m. EST match against Utah State University Eastern.
 
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).