Tribunes finish fourth at nationals

ROCHESTER, Minnesota – The Monroe Community College volleyball team dropped a tough four-set match to top seed Madison College on Saturday to finish in fourth place at the NJCAA Division III national tournament.

Despite the defeat, the Tribunes (44-3) capped its most successful season ever as they set new team marks for wins in a season and best finish at nationals.

Monroe took an early lead by winning the first set 25-21.  The Wolfpack responded in set two and took a commanding 24-12 lead.

Monroe never quit, however, and rattled off nine straight to close to 24-21. But Madison answered with a point to close out the set.

The teams battled back and forth in the third set, and the Tribunes were on serve with a 24-23 when the Wolfpack called a timeout.  A service error by the Tribunes tied the score at 24, and Madison scored the next two to win 26-24.

The Wolfpack then put the match away by taking the fourth set 25-16.

Montana Vescovi was one of three players with double-doubles, finishing with 37 assists and 17 digs. Rose Ayala had 14 kills, 14 digs, and five blocks, and Dayle Taber added 12 kills and 13 digs.

Chelsey Luce also had 12 kills to go along with eight digs, and Rachael Nicholls tallied 18 digs

Vescovi and Ayala were named to the all-tournament team.