BAYSIDE, N.Y. - Led by a 21-kill performance from Paola Beniquez, top-seeded Queensborough Community College knocked off second-seeded Borough of Manhattan Community College, 3-1 (21-25, 25-9, 28-26, 25-9), in the 2017 CUNYAC/Pepsi Community College Women's Volleyball Championship on Monday in Bayside.

"They (BMCC) looked great. That was the third time we've seen them and they played amazing," said Queensborough Head Coach and CUNYAC Coach of the Year Jason Demas. "They gave us a really big fight. It came down to making little plays. We stayed confident. We didn't want to get away from our game plan and it ended up working out."

Beniquez, who nearly tied her season-high of 22 kills, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, after putting down a match-best 21 kills on a .378 hitting percentage. She added 10 digs for a double-double and committed only four errors in the match, as well.

"This is one of the most incredible achievements in my life. I am thankful and speechless," stated Beniquez. "We worked really hard this season. I am so proud of my team."

Despite losing the opening set, the Tigers roared back with a vengeance, winning the second game by an overwhelming 25-9 score. Queensborough jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage in the set, behind three service aces from Melissa Dominguez.

Later in the set, the hosts reeled off the final eight points of the game to even the match at 1-set apiece. Freshman libero and CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Angela Acevedo served the last seven points and contributed three aces in the run.

A tightly-contested third set eventually tilted the scales further in Queensborough's favor. In a game that had eight tied scores and three lead changes, the Tigers owned a 20-16 edge, until the Panthers went on a 7-2 run to grab a slight 23-22 lead. Freshman outside hitter Sara Lazo tallied the set-tying and go-ahead kill for BMCC in the spurt.

However, Queensborough answered back and put itself on the brink of a one-set advantage, before BMCC's Maria Polanco slammed down a kill to force extra points.

In the extra stages of the set, Beniquez and sophomore middle hitter Joelle Desrosiers notched back-to-back kills to secure a thrilling 28-26 victory for QCC.

Holding all the momentum, the Tigers ran away with the fourth set. Queensborough opened the game on a 7-2 run and never looked back. Beniquez recorded three kills in the stretch, while freshman outside hitter Angie Nicholes served an ace.

Shortly thereafter, QCC built as much as a commanding 17-7 advantage, led by two blocks and a kill from Karol Rodriguez. An attack error by BMCC's Stela Vaso would send the Tigers to a 25-9 win and their third CUNYAC title in as many years.

In addition to Beniquez's outstanding performance, Dominguez registered 11 kills on a .364 hitting percentage and chipped in six aces and four digs. Desrosiers slammed down eight kills and rejected three blocks. Freshman setter Maria Veliz Thol allocated 40 assists and scooped up 13 digs for a double-double.

Lazo paced the BMCC offense with 11 kills on a .290 attack clip. Vaso and sophomore outside hitter Damali Prince each supplied seven kills. Sophomore setter Yulia Kuzmina led all players with 19 digs.

"Our goal is to go to nationals and do our best," Beniquez said about the direction of the team. "We want to have a better performance than we did last year and achieve more." 

"That's been our goal all along (to get back to nationals)," Demas commented. "We started here and wanted two championships. We wanted a chance to go back to Minnesota."

Demas also added: "At the end of the regular season, I told the team that the magic number was five. It's now down to three. We have a game on Thursday and hopefully two more on Saturday. We have to make sure that we don't beat ourselves."

Queensborough will open the Region XV Tournament on Thursday (Oct. 26), when they host CUNYAC rival Kingsborough Community College in Bayside at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, BMCC will welcome in Orange County Community College for a first-round match-up in Manhattan at 7 p.m.

2017 CUNYAC/Pepsi Community College Women's Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Paola Beniquez, Fr, OH, Queensborough - Most Valuable Player
Melissa Dominguez, So, OH, Queensborough
Joelle Desrosiers, So, MH, Queensborough
Stela Vaso, So, MH, BMCC
Sara Lazo, Fr, OH, BMCC
Decoo Desirae, Fr, OH, Kingsborough