TWIN FALLS, Idaho, September 9, 2022 – A long, challenging day as part of the College of Southern Idaho's Starr Corporation Invite saw the No. 20-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team go 1-2 on a rare three-match day on Friday. The Mustangs earned a three-set win over Western Wyoming Community College to start the day, but fell in three to No. 12 Missouri State University-West Plains. The final match of the day was an incredibly close five-set thriller with No. 2 Snow College, but the Mustangs fell two points shy of a huge victory in the evening. Monroe leaves the day with a 14-5 overall record.
MATCH 1: #20 Monroe 3, Western Wyoming 0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-12)
The Mustangs got off to a dominant start in Friday's first of three matches and never looked back. An 11-1 start in the opening set was indicative of what would happen. The Mustangs won by no fewer than 11 points in each set to pick up a three-set victory over the Mustangs of Western Wyoming.
Yaliancis Flores threw down 12 kills in Friday's opener.
Vanja Stefanovic was next with 10 kills.
Manon Braunsteffer had five kills and three total blocks.
Francesca Andreon handed out 25 assists in the win while picking up eight digs.
Laura Paniagua led the team with 10 digs.
Doriangelis Serrano Reynoso had two kills, three aces and seven digs, while
Gabriela Aimi Zuquelo registered three kills, two aces and six digs.
MATCH 2: #12 Missouri State-West Plains 3, #20 Monroe 0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-14)
Friday's second match proved to be a tougher one for the Mustangs, as they fell in three sets to the 12th-ranked Grizzlies. The first two sets were tight, with the Mustangs mounting a big comeback in the opening game, but falling just short. The second stanza needed more than 25 points to determine a winner, but the Grizzlies were able to handle the Mustangs late to win, 26-24. West Plains went on a big run midway through the third frame to pick up the win and the sweep.
Stefanovic had another 11 kills in the second match of the day. Flores added nine more to go with eight digs.
Leanisse Solano had six kills and nine digs. Andreon dished out 33 assists this time, while also serving up a pair of aces and picking up six digs. Paniagua scooped up another nine digs.
MATCH 3: #2 Snow 3, #20 Monroe 2 (20-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 15-13)
Friday's finale, on paper the toughest match of the weekend for the Mustangs, proved to be the most exciting of the day, despite it being the Mustangs' third. After breaking a 6-6 tie in the first set, the Mustangs controlled the rest of the way to pick up a 25-20 win and go up by a set. The Badgers then quickly turned things around, picking up the first eight points of the second stanza and never looking back to win, 25-15.
The third game was the closest of the night. Monroe trailed, 19-16, before going on a 6-0 run to take a three-point edge. Monroe had set point at 24-21 before three straight points by the Badgers, but Monroe regrouped to win the next two points to win, 26-24, and go up 2-1 in the match.
The fourth frame was close once again, but a 14-14 stalemate soon became a 23-15 advantage for Snow. That resulted in the Badgers' 25-17 win to force a deciding fifth set. The Badgers controlled early in the final game, going up, 7-2, on the Mustangs. Monroe then turned things around with four straight points to get back within one. The final set was tied up at 11-11, but then the Badgers won two straight. Monroe responded with two in a row to tie once again, but it was the Badgers that picked up the final two points to earn a 15-13 victory and win a highly competitive match.
Flores slammed a season-high 22 kills in Friday's finale, while also contributing nine digs. Solano followed with 14 kills. Andreon led the team with 35 assists, adding eight digs. Paniagua had 19 digs, while
Alessia Gallo picked up 10 while also serving up four aces.
After a challenging, yet rewarding day for the Mustangs, they are set to close out their weekend at the Starr Corporation Invite in Idaho Saturday morning with an 11 a.m. EST match against No. 5-ranked Salt Lake Community College.
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 (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
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@monroemustangs).
