PRESCOTT, Ariz., August 30, 2019 – The No. 15-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on the second day of the Dalton Overstreet Invitational, hosted by Yavapai College. The Mustangs fell, 3-1, in Friday's opener against New Mexico Military Institute before dropping a 3-0 decision to Utah State University Eastern.
 
MATCH 1: NEW MEXICO MILITARY 3, MONROE 1 (25-16, 25-20, 18-25, 25-11)
After a long first day in Arizona on Thursday, the Mustangs got back to work Friday morning against New Mexico Military. The opening set was close early on, but the Broncos opened things up by taking a 15-9 lead. The Mustangs got back within three, but a five-point run put NMMI up, 20-12, eventually leading to a 25-16 win for the Broncos.
 
The second stanza was once again neck-and-neck most of the way before NMMI claimed a 20-16 advantage. The Mustangs were within two at 20-18, but the Broncos closed it out with a 25-20 win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
A six-point run for Monroe early in the third set had the Mustangs on top, 9-5. The lead grew to as many as eight points when Monroe took a 17-9 lead, and later, a 20-12 edge. The Mustangs closed it out with a 25-18 win to keep the match going.
 
The fourth frame began with a three-point run for Monroe, followed by five straight points for the Broncos. After the Mustangs tied things up at 5-5, nine straight points by NMMI gave the Broncos a 14-5 lead, with which they never looked back. NMMI picked up a 25-11 win to close out the match.
 
Giulia La Longa led the Mustangs in kills for the third straight match, throwing down seven in Friday's opener to go with three blocks. Zassmine Birdwell followed with six kills and added four blocks, matching her for the team lead with Alondra Ramos. Alondra Garcia led the team with 13 assists, while Melanie Orsini picked up 23 digs.
 
MATCH 2: UTAH STATE EASTERN 3, MONROE 0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-15)
The Mustangs held the advantage early on in Friday's finale with Utah State Eastern, going up, 10-5, in the first frame. The Eagles turned it around to go up, 12-11, but the set remained close throughout. Things were tied up at 23-23, but the Eagles took the last two points to go up, 1-0.
 
The Eagles took a 12-6 lead in the second frame, and after going up, 14-8, the Mustangs responded with a seven-point run to take a 15-14 lead. Utah State Eastern later went up, 22-19, but the Mustangs later tied up the set at 23-23. The second set needed extra points, but the final two went to the Eagles to give them a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The Eagles used a 10-point run in the third set to take a 19-9 advantage. Utah State Eastern used this big lead to eventually claim a 25-15 win and a 3-0 victory in the match.
 
La Longa produced a season-high 17 kills in Friday's nightcap. She also had a pair of block assists with Birdwell. Tereza Strnadlova added seven kills and eight digs. Garcia dished out 19 assists, while Orsini picked up 16 digs.
 
The Mustangs will look to close out their weekend in Arizona with a big win on Saturday, as they take on No. 20 Arizona Western College. The match is set to begin at 11 a.m. EST.
 
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).