MOBILE, Ala., November 6, 2022 – The No. 19-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team was not satisfied with just securing a spot at the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Championship. The Mustangs successfully defending the District A Title on Sunday, defeating Wallace State Community College in the finals of the Gulf Atlantic District A/B Championship, taking home the tournament's top prize for the second straight season.
With the District A Title secured, the Mustangs will now be the top team out of the Gulf Atlantic District in the NJCAA Championship tournament. Wallace State will represent the district as the District B Champions after finishing as the tournament runner-up. The Lions defeated Bishop State Community College earlier in the day to earn their national tournament berth. The Mustangs are now heading to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Championship for the sixth straight season (Mustangs did not compete in 2020).
Leanisse Solano was named the Gulf Atlantic District A/B Championship Most Valuable Player for the second straight year after another terrific tournament. She averaged 4.50 kills and 3.25 digs per set while hitting .314. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Yaliancis Flores, Francesca Andreon and Manon Braunsteffer.
The Mustangs stormed out of the gate with a 5-1 lead in the opening set, but the Lions soon tied it up at 8-8. The Mustangs pushed the lead to five at 15-10, giving them plenty of distance. Monroe held a 23-17 edge late in the game, but Wallace State scored four straight points to make it close. The Mustangs rebounded with the final two points to take a 25-21 win and go up, 1-0.
The second set was tight throughout, seeing the Lions score three straight to take a 12-10 edge on the Mustangs. Monroe jumped back into the lead after taking 5-of-6, but the two teams continued trading points and leads for much of the set. The Lions went on a five-point run to go up, 23-20, but a timeout proved to be just what the Mustangs needed, as they responded with five in a row to claim the second set, 25-23, and go up, 2-0.
The third set saw a bunch of runs back-and-forth in the early goings. The Lions took the first two points, but the Mustangs scored the next five. Wallace State then scored four straight, but Monroe picked up the next three to take an 8-6 edge. A four-point run later in the game had the Mustangs on top, 13-9, but the Lions scored 5-of-6 to tie it up at 14-14. An 18-17 lead soon became 22-17 after four straight by the Mustangs. Shortly after, the Lions picked up three in a row to get within two at 23-21, forcing Monroe to call a timeout. That once again proved to get the Mustangs back-on-track, as they closed the door with the final two points to secure the tournament title.
Solano had another big match on Sunday, leading the floor with 14 kills, as well as a pair of blocks and five digs. Flores was next with 12 kills to go with eight digs. Braunsteffer had nine kills in the win. Andreon totaled 37 assists with three digs and three kills. Laura Paniagua picked up a team-high 17 digs and handed out four assists. Doriangelis Serrano Reynoso had eight digs and three aces, as well as four kills.
The Mustangs can officially book their flight to West Plains, Mo., where they will compete in the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Championship at the West Plains Civic Center. The Mustangs will await Thursday's NJCAA Bracket Release show to find out where they fall in the bracket.
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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