TAMPA, Fla., October 2, 2021 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team saw its 15-match winning streak come to a halt with a four-set loss to No. 15 Hillsborough Community College on Saturday, but the Mustangs bounced back later in the day with a three-set win over State College of Florida. The Mustangs head back home with a 22-4 overall record.
 
MATCH 1: #15 Hillsborough 3, Monroe 1 (25-19, 25-16, 24-26, 25-17)
The Hawks got the early jump on the Mustangs in Saturday's first match, taking a quick 6-2 lead in the opening set. The teams played back-and-forth for the remainder of the set, seeing Monroe get as close as 20-17 late, but ultimately falling to the nationally ranked Hawks, 25-19, to go down 1-0 in the match.
 
The Mustangs got off to a much better start in the second stanza, going up 5-1 on the Hawks to start the new game. An 8-4 lead for Monroe later turned into a 12-8 advantage for the home team, as Hillsborough rattled off eight-straight points. The Mustangs trailed, 13-10, before the Hawks had another big run, scoring five straight for an 18-10 edge. The Mustangs got back within six at 22-16, but the Hawks picked up the final three points to win, 25-16.
 
The Mustangs got off to a solid start in the third frame, going up, 4-1. The Hawks rebounded to take a 7-6 lead, but Monroe was able to go back up, 12-9. Hillsborough picked up the next three to tie it up, but the Mustangs took 7-of-9 for a 19-14 advantage. The Hawks nearly tied once again at 20-19, but the Mustangs picked up 4-of-5 to force set point at 24-20. The Hawks did not want to go another set, and scored the next four to tie it up. The Mustangs then regained their rhythm, scoring the final two points to win the game, 26-24, and force a fourth set.
 
After a tight start, the Mustangs managed to go up, 10-7, early in the fourth frame. The continued to lead until a 14-12 edge became a 21-15 lead for Hillsborough after a 9-1 run. The Mustangs scored a couple more points, but the Hawks closed it out with a 25-17 win to claim a 3-1 win in the match and put an end to Monroe's 15-match win streak.
 
Three Mustangs finished with double-digit kills and double-doubles in the match. Leanisse Solano led with 14 kills to go with 15 digs and three aces. Masoomeh Angooti had 13 kills and 15 digs of her own. Alisha Callender threw down 11 kills to go with 19 assists and four digs. Lyanis Rios led the team with 21 assists to go with eight digs. Laura Paniagua scooped up a team-best 33 digs.
 
MATCH 2: Monroe 3, State College of Florida 0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-17)
Feeling vengeful after seeing their long win streak come to an end, the Mustangs jumped out to a 10-1 lead to open the match with the Manatees. A nine-point run later in the gave Monroe a commanding 20-4 advantage, eventually leading to a 25-7 win for a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The second set was closer to start, but the Mustangs still controlled the game with an 11-6 lead. The Mustangs stayed steady, leading 20-17 before picking up 5-of-6 to close out the set with a 25-18 victory.
 
The momentum continued for Monroe in the third set, as the Mustangs took a 6-2 lead right off the bat. That lead turned into 13-5 shortly after, but the Manatees chipped away to get within one at 16-15. The Mustangs then took five of the next six points to go back up by five. After a point by the Manatees, the Mustangs scored the final four of the day for a 25-17 conquest and a 3-0 win in the match.
 
Alondra Ramos led the Mustangs with eight kills in the win, while Solano and Angooti both followed with seven. Angooti led the team with 15 digs, while she and Solano matched with a team-high three aces. Rios had 19 assists to lead the team, while Paniagua picked up 11 digs. Delaney Killeen had two blocks in the win.
 
The Mustangs return to action at home on Thursday, Oct. 7, when they host Queensborough Community College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The 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 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).