BROOKLYN, N.Y., February 21, 2024 – With Region 15 competition beginning this season, the Monroe College Mustangs men's volleyball team played its first-ever Region 15 match Wednesday evening, defeating Kingsborough Community College in three sets. The Mustangs improve to 9-2 overall and 1-0 in Region play, while the Wave drop to 0-1.
Each of the first 18 points in Wednesday's match was either a point for the Mustangs or a mistake by the Mustangs, leading to a 13-5 Monroe lead. After Kingsborough got its first two kills, the Mustangs went on a 5-1 run to go up, 19-8. With Monroe ahead, 19-9, the Mustangs produced three kills and two aces, while giving up two points on service errors, leading to a 25-11 win for Monroe.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 9-2 advantage in the second set. The Wave were more competitive in their second-ever game, battling back to get within three at 13-10. Monroe later used a 6-2 run to take a more comfortable 22-13 edge, closing things out with a 25-14 win to go up, 2-0.
Kingsborough scored the first three points of the third frame, but the Mustangs followed with 6-of-7 to take the lead. Shortly after, an 11-9 Monroe lead became 16-9. Three straight points later in the set put the Mustangs up, 22-13. After trading points, a kill by
Gabriel Stokes and an ace by
Vene Gase wrapped up the match with a 25-15 victory.
The Mustangs hit .318 in the match, while holding the Wave to a -.057 clip.
Damian Baker hit a ridiculous .909 with 10 kills on 11 swings, adding three blocks and two aces to complete a strong evening.
Briggs Wieboldt totaled nine kills, six aces, three digs and a block. Gase threw down six kills with a pair of aces and a block. Stokes added four kills and three blocks.
Timothy Reyes passed around 27 assists and picked up a team-high seven digs.
Arthur Rosa scooped up six digs with four assists.
The Mustangs take a trip upstate to Canandaigua, N.Y. this weekend to compete in the Finger Lakes Community College Tournament. They will play four matches across two days, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 24. They open Saturday against SUNY Brockport at 12 p.m., followed immediately after by a matchup with SUNY Geneseo.
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 (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
