NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., September 11, 2021 – In their return to the Monroe Athletic Complex, the Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team picked up a pair of three-set victories over Nassau Community College and Montgomery College in Saturday's tri-match. The Mustangs improve to 11-3 overall with the wins.
 
Match 1: Monroe 3, Nassau 0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-7)
The Mustangs opened the match on an 8-0 run before the Lions were able to score their first point. Nassau picked up three of the next four points to make it a 9-3 game, but the Mustangs then rattled off nine straight points before the Lions used their second timeout with Monroe on top, 18-3. It became a 12-0 run before Nassau got back on the board, but the Mustangs finished things off quickly for a 25-6 win to go up, 1-0.
 
Just like the opening frame, the Mustangs jumped out to an 8-0 lead before the Lions picked up a point. Monroe's league built and built throughout the game, and just like the first set, they secured a 25-6 win to take a 2-0 lead.
 
It was déjà vu all over again in the third set, as Monroe once more took an 8-0 lead to open the game. Monroe's 15-4 advantage forced Nassau to use its second timeout of the set. The Mustangs were a point away from their third straight 25-6 win, but a late point by the Lions resulted in a 25-7 final set in favor of Monroe.
 
Alondra Ramos led Monroe with seven kills in the first match, hitting .750 in the win. Each of Alisha Callender, Delaney Killeen, Valeria Trinidad and Yaliancis Flores registered six kills. Callender added 15 assists and six aces. Lyanis Rios had an unconventional double-double with team-highs of 17 assists and 10 aces. Laura Paniagua led the Mustangs with 11 digs.
 
Match 2: Monroe 3, Montgomery 0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-17)
The opening set between Monroe and Montgomery got off to a close start, seeing the Mustangs hold a narrow 5-4 lead. They then scored the next six points, forcing the Raptors to take a timeout with Monroe up, 11-4. The timeout proved worthwhile, as the Raptors scored the next three points, but the Mustangs then took 4-of-5 to take a 15-8 edge. After the score reached 18-10, the Mustangs scored the final seven points of the set, taking a 25-10 win to go up, 1-0.
 
The Mustangs got off to a strong start in the second game, taking an early 7-1 lead. The Raptors were able to get within five at 11-6, the Mustangs then scored four straight to force a timeout by the visitors at 15-6. The two teams traded points to reach a score of 18-9, but the Mustangs then scored 7-of-8 to close out the set with another 25-10 win, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
The Raptors opened the third set with some momentum, opening up with a 7-6 lead on the Mustangs. Things turned around from there, as Monroe went on a 9-1 run to go back up, 15-8. The Mustangs later took a 19-10 lead, but Montgomery kept battling to make it a 21-14 score. The Raptors narrowed the gap a bit more at 23-17, but the Mustangs closed it out from there for a 25-17 win and a straight set victory.
 
Flores took the lead in Saturday's finale with nine kills, adding six digs as well. Solano followed with eight kills and seven digs. Ramos was next with seven kills and a pair of blocks in the win. Callender led the team with 23 assists, adding five kills, five aces, two blocks and seven digs. Rios dished out 18 assists and matched Callender's five aces.
 
Monroe gets back on the road next weekend to compete in the Spartanburg Methodist Tournament, hosted by Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, S.C. They will play two matches a day on Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18.
 
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).