WEST PLAINS, Mo., November 17, 2022 – In an opening-round match at the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Championship at the West Plains Civic Center, the No. 15-seeded Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to No. 2 Indian Hills Community College on Thursday. The Mustangs are eliminated from title contention with the loss, while the Warriors advance to the tournament's quarterfinal round.
The Mustangs see their 22-match winning streak come to an end with Thursday's defeat, while Indian Hills now owns the NJCAA's longest active winning streak with 15 straight victories. The Mustangs' trip to West Plains does not end with Thursday's loss, as they will have a chance to compete in the consolation bracket of the tournament beginning on Friday when they take on No. 10 New Mexico Military College. Indian Hills will take on No. 7 Trinity Valley Community College in the quarterfinals later today.
The Warriors took a big lead in the opening set, jumping out to an 11-3 edge over the Mustangs. Monroe had a late six-point run that cut the deficit to five, but Indian Hills turned it around with four straight to take a 25-16 win in the first game.
Indian Hills got the early advantage again in the second stanza with a 9-1 lead. It was much the same the rest of the way, as Monroe's late run was not enough to come back in a 25-12 defeat.
The Mustangs found a rhythm in the third frame, managing to take an 11-6 lead on the Warriors. However, the Warriors turned things around in a big way, rattling off eight straight points and going on a 13-1 run to take a 19-12 advantage later in the set. Monroe picked up 6-of-7 at the very end of the game to get within three, but the Warriors held off the Mustangs with the final point for a 25-21 win to take the match.
Yaliancis Flores led all players with 11 kills in the match, adding a team-high two service aces. Leanisse Solano was next for Monroe with six kills. Francesca Andreon provided 13 assists on Thursday. Andreon and Laura Paniagua matched with six digs. Izabela Wos led the team with two blocks.
The Mustangs will look to keep their trip to West Plains alive on Friday, Nov. 18, when they take on No. 10 New Mexico Military in the first consolation round. Friday's 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 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well 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 11 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 (
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