GLEN ELLYN, Ill., February 18, 2024 – Playing in its first road tournament of the season this Saturday and Sunday, the Monroe College Mustangs men's volleyball team went 2-2 in four matches at the College of DuPage Tournament. The Mustangs fell to Saint Xavier University (NAIA) in three sets on Saturday before defeating host DuPage in four. The Mustangs lost to Aurora University (NCAA Div. III) on Sunday before another four-set victory over Bryant & Stratton College (Wisc.) to close out the weekend. The Mustangs move to 8-2 overall after the weekend, and 8-0 against NJCAA opponents.
MATCH 1: Saint Xavier 3, Monroe 0
Taking on a four-year school in Saint Xavier, the Mustangs gave the Cougars a tough match despite ending in three sets. The Mustangs dropped a close 25-23 first set before the Cougars won the last two with matching 25-20 scores.
Arnau Riu Giralt led Monroe with 10 kills in the match, adding two aces, two blocks and two digs.
Briggs Wieboldt threw down seven kills with a pair of blocks and five digs.
Timothy Reyes handed out 23 assists with eight digs.
Damian Baker made a team-high four total blocks.
MATCH 2: Monroe 3, DuPage 1
After going five sets during the Monroe College Men's Volleyball Invitational a couple weeks back, the Mustangs and Chaparrals had another highly competitive match on DuPage's home court on Saturday, but the Mustangs managed to close things out in four this time. DuPage jumped ahead with a 25-19 win in the first set, but the Mustangs evened the match with a 25-23 conquest. Monroe defeated DuPage by that same score in the third game before closing things out with a 25-21 victory.
Riu Giralt led the way again with 18 kills in Saturday's finale, adding six digs and two aces.
Ethan Grace totaled 11 kills, three aces and seven digs. Baker threw down nine kills with a pair of blocks. Reyes dished out 43 assists and picked up eight digs once again.
Arthur Rosa matched Reyes' eight digs.
MATCH 3: Aurora 3, Monroe 0
Sunday's opener proved to be the toughest match of the weekend for the Mustangs, as they dropped set scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-14 to the Spartans to fall in three games.
It was Riu Giralt taking the offensive lead once again early on Sunday with 10 kills. Reyes was next with four kills to go with his 18 assists and two blocks. Rosa had a team-high of four digs.
MATCH 4: Monroe 3, Bryant & Stratton 1
The Mustangs closed out the weekend well by defeating the Bobcats in four sets in just the second matchup ever between the two NJCAA programs. After dropping the first set, 25-20, the Mustangs rallied to win the next three with scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-22.
Riu Giralt made it four straight matches of double-digit kills with 16 in the weekend finale. Grace was next with seven kills, adding two aces and five digs. Wieboldt had five kills with an ace and seven digs. Baker led the team with four aces to go with his four kills, two blocks and two digs. Reyes totaled 29 assists, two blocks and seven digs. Rosa led the team with eight digs in the win.
The Mustangs have a shorter road trip coming up this Wednesday, Feb. 21, when they visit Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn for a Region 15 matchup with the Wave. Wednesday evening's match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
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 (
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