Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Monroe dropped a tough five-set battle to Calhoun Community College on Wednesday morning, falling 3-2 in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship.
Monroe came out strong behind a .312 hitting performance in the first set, taking the opener 25-22 and setting the tone early. The Mustangs nearly went up 2–0, holding set point in the second, but Calhoun closed on a late run to even the match at 1-1. Momentum swung sharply after the break, as Monroe struggled offensively in the third, hitting -.056 while the Warhawks controlled the frame to go ahead 2-1.
The Mustangs showed their resilience in the fourth. Trailing late, Monroe pieced together several defensive stands and timely kills highlighted by big swings from Adriana Garcia and Alisha Pereira Rodriguez-Wells to steal the set 26-24 and force a decisive fifth. But Calhoun's efficiency returned in the final frame, hitting .211 and pulling away midway through to seal the match.
Garcia delivered a standout performance, finishing with 16 kills on 54 swings and adding six digs and 18 points. Pereira Rodriguez-Wells recorded 14 kills and 11 digs, while Fabiana Lopez added seven kills, 16 digs, and an ace. Setter Mileyshka Melendez posted 22 assists, three aces, and nine digs, and Chiara Lovadina contributed 15 assists.
Defensively, Monroe collected 74 digs, with Emma Dedushaj and Lopez leading the way with 16 each. At the net, Flavia Pecora totaled five blocks, and Adriana Garcia added three block assists.
Despite the loss, Monroe battled through 28 tie scores and 10 lead changes in a match. The Mustangs will now have a day of rest as they await the loser of the Heartland vs Sauk Valley.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University 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.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).
