MOBILE, Ala., November 5, 2022 – The No. 19-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team is heading back to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Championship after defeating top-seeded Wallace State Community College in three sets on Saturday in a winner's bracket matchup as part of the Gulf Atlantic District A/B Championship tournament at the Mobile Civic Center. The win also marks Monroe's 21st straight victory and improves the Mustangs to 35-6 overall.
The Mustangs claim an automatic bid to West Plains by earning one of the Gulf Atlantic District's two bids to the national tournament. The win sends the Mustangs' to the tournament's final on Sunday, needing just one victory to claim the District A Championship for the second straight season. The tournament runner-up will leave with the District B Title in-hand.
The opening set was as back-and-forth as could be, with both teams trading the lead numerous times. The Lions led the Mustangs, 23-22, late in the game, but the Mustangs fired back with three straight points to close it out with a 25-23 win to go up, 1-0.
The late run put the Mustangs in a rhythm, allowing them to go up, 13-7, in the second set. The Mustangs continued scoring in chunks, going up, 18-10, after three straight points. The Mustangs closed out the second stanza on a 4-1 run to claim a 25-16 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Lions used a four-point run to take a 6-5 edge early in the third frame. After Wallace State took a 10-9 lead, the Mustangs picked up three straight to go up by two. The Lions tied it up at 12-12, but the Mustangs then rattled off seven straight points to take a 19-12 advantage. Monroe reached match point after a 4-0 run made it 24-14. The Lions stayed alive with the next four points, but a kill by Leanisse Solano closed the door with a 25-18 win to complete the sweep.
Solano led the team with 16 kills, completing a double-double with 11 digs in the win. Yaliancis Flores was next with 10 kills and nine digs, as well as two aces. Manon Braunsteffer had her usual efficient afternoon, hitting .615 with eight kills and a team-high four blocks. Francesca Andreon dished out 40 assists and picked up five digs. Laura Paniagua led the team with 18 digs.
With a trip to West Plains, Mo., already booked, the Mustangs will look to successfully defend the District A Championship, which they took home for the first time last year. Wallace State will take on Bishop State Community College tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST in an elimination match. The winner will take on the Mustangs, needing to beat Monroe twice to take the District A crown. The tournament runner-up will advance to the NJCAA Championship tournament as the District B Champion. Monroe's first match on Sunday, Nov. 6, is set for 2 p.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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