NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.–Monroe University men's volleyball sophomore Roy Cepeda was named the NJCAA Region 15 Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday afternoon. Cepeda and Yensy Rodriguez earned First Team NJCAA Region 15 honors, while Benny Rosado was named to the Sportsmanship Team.
Cepeda produced 316 digs and 16 blocks this season. He registered 32 defensive bumps during the Mustangs' five-set win over Union County College of New Jersey back on March 18. The sophomore led the Mustangs in digs and receptions per set (.44) during the year. He also sat tied for sets played this season at 93. This is the second-time Cepeda was named Defensive Player of the Year, as he did in 2025.
Rodriguez tallied a team-leading 345 kills this season. The freshman also led NJCAA Region 15 in kills per set at 3.91. He registered six games in which he tallied 20 or more kills in a game, with the most coming against Atlantic Cape CC on February 19, in which he recorded 27. He also led the Mustangs in total points this season at 399.5.
Rosado played in 83 sets this season, registering two kills and 14 points. He also had 49 digs and one block on the year. His season high of nine digs came against Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on March 13.
