Women’s Volleyball Writes Their Way into History

By Rachel Pinton ’01  |  Winter 2024

It was a Cinderella story for one program this past fall season as the Roadrunner Women’s Volleyball team made history! On November 11, for the first time ever at Ramapo College, the Lady Roadrunners won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship!

It started back in August when Head Coach Fernando Colon took over the program just prior to pre-season. Training the 17 girls on the roster, Colon, along with Assistant Coaches Andre Jackson and Pedro Yantin, knew they collectively had something special on the court. “I loved how the girls bought in right from the start,” Colon said. “They worked extremely hard on and off the court to work towards our goals for the season.”

It didn’t take long before the team began dominating competitors, opening the season on the road against Farmingdale State and Manhattanville College collecting two of their many victories this season. Ramapo went on to defeat four more non-conference opponents before opening conference play on the road against the Pioneers of William Paterson University. With a 3-2 thrilling victory, the Roadrunners continued their winning ways, collecting 12 straight wins before facing conference foe, Stockton University. In a hard-fought match-up, the team fell to the Ospreys, a team Ramapo had struggled with in the past. “It was a loss we needed as a program,” Colon commented. “It was perfect timing to regroup and focus on wrapping up the season as the highest seed possible and focusing on tournament play.”

Ramapo finished regular season play with an 11-match win streak, earning the  No. 2 seed in the NJAC post-season tournament.  They collectively earned 23 wins and just one loss and went 7-1 in the NJAC. With the No. 2 seed, Ramapo earned a first-round bye. After defeating No. 3 seed Kean University at home on November 9 in the semi-final match, the Roadrunners would travel to the home of the Ospreys. It was there they got their revenge when it mattered most in a heart pounding five-set win. “From the very first day until the very last, we were all on the same page,” said senior captain Kalme Moncavo. “It was really exciting training together and fighting for the same goals. Winning the first championship for the school was definitely a cherry on top!”

The win, which earned the team the championship crown, punched their ticket with an automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Championship Tournament for just the second time in the history of the program.

Colon reflected, “It was a history making season and an amazing accomplishment winning the first NJAC Championship in program history! We spoke about wanting that trophy all season, and it felt great bringing it home!”

Although the Roadrunners bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in a first-round loss to Christopher Newport, it was a season no one will soon forget. Colon added, “Making it to the NCAA tournament was another team goal we accomplished, and it was a great experience for the program!  We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of the athletic administration, fellow athletes, faculty, staff and most importantly the student-body who fought with us!  All the love and support throughout the season was immeasurable!”

Senior captain Desiree Cruz, who was named AVCA All-America, just the second Roadrunner to be honored by the organization said, “This was the best season I have had in my college career, and I can’t think of a better team and coaching staff to end it with. Winning our conference and getting to hang a banner in the arena is the best feeling ever!  Thank you Ramapo!”

Statistically, Maliyah LaBrie led the Roadrunners this season with 297 kills while Cruz and Moncavo were tied for second on the team with 227. Krystal Santiago led the way on defense with 377digs and Cleopatra Diakou recorded a team high 562 assists. Cruz led the way with 92 total blocks, which is 4th on the single season records list.  Moncavo posted a team high 71 aces.

For their efforts on the court, Cruz earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors, AVCA All-Region 4 First Team, and NJAC First Team All-Conference while LaBrie was named AVCA All-Region 4 Honorable Mention and NJAC First Team All-Conference.  Moncavo and Santiago collected NJAC Second Team All-Conference and NJAC Honorable Mention All-Conference respectively.

Despite graduating four members of the team, Colon is looking forward to what the program can accomplish next season.  “We have a lot of key players returning and the experience we received this year should pay off for an even better season next fall.”

For more information on the women’s volleyball program and Ramapo College Athletics, please visit www.ramapoathletics.com.