FORT MYERS, Fla., November 3, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's volleyball team has earned its way to the to the NJCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship each of the team's past six seasons. The Mustangs' path to the national tournament has changed a few times during that span, and change is once again upon the Mustangs in 2023, as their road to Hutchinson, Kan., now goes through Florida.
THE LAST SIX DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Back in 2016 when Monroe's six-year run began, the Mustangs had to get through a modified Region 15 Championship, followed by a single District Championship match against the Region 10 Champion from the Carolinas. The same was true in 2017. In 2018, redistricting saw the Mustangs moved into the Gulf Atlantic District, having to travel to Alabama to come away with one of two NJCAA Championship automatic qualifiers.
2018 was a new challenge for the Mustangs, but it proved to be a challenge they were ready for. The Mustangs started their first Gulf Atlantic District Championship with a 2-1 record before dropping a four-set match to No. 19 Wallace State Community College. In a loser's bracket elimination match with a spot in the national tournament on the line, the Mustangs were down, 2-0, to Lawson State Community College, before making a heroic comeback to win in five and secure their spot at Hutch. Looking to win the tournament outright, the Mustangs were once again down, 2-0, this time to Wallace State. The Mustangs came back to force a fifth set, but fell in the deciding game, 15-13, coming away with the Gulf Atlantic B District Title.
The path was even tougher in 2019 for Monroe. The Mustangs went 1-1 in the first day of the Gulf Atlantic Championship, having to work through the loser's bracket to keep their national tournament hopes alive. The Mustangs staved off elimination with a three-set win over Coastal Alabama Community College, but needed to defeat No. 15 Wallace State to keep going. The Mustangs saw a 2-0 lead in the match disappear, needing a fifth frame to determine a winner. The Mustangs managed to hang on with a 15-10 win, but still had work to do on the third day of the tournament.
The Mustangs once again secured their spot in the NJCAA Championship with a four-set win over Lawson State Community College, but would need to defeat Gadsden State Community College twice to win the Gulf Atlantic A Title. The Mustangs had a strong showing in the first match with a three-set victory. Then, having to play their third match in a row, the Mustangs went to five sets with Gadsden State before dropping the final frame, once again leaving as the Gulf Atlantic B District Champs.
After a hiatus in 2020, the Mustangs went back to Alabama in 2021. The Mustangs flexed their muscle that season, going a perfect 3-0 with a win over Snead State Community College and back-to-back victories over Wallace State to earn the Gulf Atlantic A District Championship for the first time. The tournament field was larger in 2022, but that was no matter for the Mustangs, who not only went 4-0, but did so without dropping a set throughout the tournament, claiming what proved to be the final Gulf Atlantic A District Title.
THE NEW PATH IN 2023
With no more Gulf Atlantic District to compete in, the Mustangs were once again redistricted in 2023. First, the Mustangs had to get through the Region 10 Championship to earn their way to this year's Atlantic District Championship in Florida. The Mustangs won all three of their matches in the single-elimination Region 10 tournament, earning the higher of two qualifying spots to the Atlantic District Championship, with runner-up Spartanburg Methodist College also making the trip.
Monroe and Spartanburg Methodist both now await their single-match opponents down in Florida. NJCAA Region 8, also known as the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA), is holding its Region/State Championship tournament on Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, Fla. The six-team tournament will send its champion and runner-up to Sunday's Atlantic District Championship.
As the Region 10 Tournament Champion, Monroe will take on the runner-up from Region 8 on Sunday to determine one of the Atlantic District Champions. Spartanburg Methodist will then take on the FCSAA Champion for the other automatic qualifier to the NJCAA Championship.
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE:
Live Video: FSWBucs.com/FSWBucsLive
Live Stats: MonroeCollegeMustangs.com/WVBLiveStats
REGION 8/FCSAA TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
2023 Region 8/FCSAA State Women's Volleyball Championships
Suncoast Credit Union Arena – Fort Myers, FL (Florida Southwestern State College)
FCSAA Division I Volleyball Championships Tournament Central
Seeding:
- Florida Southwestern State College
- Miami Dade College
- Daytona State College
- Polk State College
- Eastern Florida State College
- Hillsborough Community College
RANKED TEAMS AND PREVIOUS MONROE OPPONENTS
Five of the six teams competing in the FCSAA Championship tournament can be found in the Top 16 of the NJCAA Div. I Women's Volleyball Rankings. Florida Southwestern State comes in at No. 1 after losing just one match all season, looking to defend its National Championship from 2022. Miami Dade is No. 3 in the final rankings for the season at 18-4. Daytona State ranks No. 13, while Eastern Florida State is No. 15 in the final poll. Polk State rounds up the group with a No. 16 ranking.
Having made two trips down to Florida in August and September, the Mustangs are very familiar with Region 8's playoff teams. The Mustangs have played Hillsborough twice, Polk State twice, Florida Southwestern State twice and Eastern Florida State once.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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).
