Velasco Records Team-High 19 Kills on Day as Volleyball Defeats Dominican at NYIT Tri-Match
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Nov. 5, 2016) – Powered by a team-high 19 kills along with 21 digs on the day from senior Andrea Velasco (Whittier, Calif./Rio Hondo College), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (12-25, 19-25, 21-25) decision to ECC foe NYIT before defeating Dominican College, 3-2 (13-25, 25-18, 26-24, 16-25, 15-9) on Saturday afternoon at Recreation Hall.
The Mavericks (4-18, 2-10 ECC) snap a seven-match losing streak with the win. The Bears (23-5, 9-3 ECC) have won two matches in a row, while the Chargers (4-23) have dropped 14 matches in a row.
Sophomore Peyton Olson (Albany, Ore./West Albany) contributed 17 kills and nine digs, while freshman Gabriella Fernandes (Islip, N.Y./Islip) had 13 kills and 29 digs on the day. Sophomore Leah Petty (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) netted 14 kills and sophomore Brianna Heffernan (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) had a team-high 33 digs. Sophomore Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) dished out 61 assists and had ten digs and eight kills.
NYIT was led by Karolina Moderova who had a team-high ten kills and 15 digs.
Dominican was guided by Deanna Knopf who had a match-high 21 kills along with 18 digs.
NYIT 3, Mercy 0
The opening set of the match saw the Bears jump out to an 8-1 lead and they would not look back in taking the first set, 25-12.
The Mavericks took a 4-2 lead in set two after back-to-back kills from Fernandes. NYIT responded with seven straight points to take a 9-4 advantage. Mercy battled back and tied the set up at 12-12 after a kill by junior Danielle Sarasky (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial). The Bears ensued with a 7-2 run to build a 19-14 advantage and they led the rest of the way in taking a 2-0 lead.
The two teams were tied at 9-9 in the third set after a kill by Velasco. The hosts followed with a 6-2 spurt to take a 15-11 lead before the Mavericks answered back with three straight points to cut the deficit to 15-14. NYIT increased the lead back to five, 21-16, before Mercy trimmed the Bears lead to three, 21-18. However, that was the closest the Mavericks could get as NYIT emerged victorious in three sets.
Olson led the Mavericks with eight kills, while Heffernan had a match-high 16 digs. Runge added 22 assists and Velasco contributed six kills.
Mercy 3, Dominican 2
The Mavericks trailed the Chargers 10-8 in the first set following a kill by Velasco, but Dominican would close the set on a 15-5 run to take the first set, 25-13.
After a difficult first set, Mercy responded by taking an 11-4 lead in the second set, forcing a Chargers timeout. Dominican cut the Mavericks lead to 15-10, but that was the closest the Chargers could get as Mercy closed out the set to tie up the match at 1-1.
A Velasco kill gave the Mavericks a 9-8 lead in the third set before Dominican responded with three straight points to take an 11-9 lead. Mercy fought back and retook the lead at 19-18 after kills from Runge, senior Floriana Rraci (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) and Velasco. The Chargers reclaimed the lead and held a 24-23 lead late looking to take a 2-1 lead, but the Mavericks rattled off three straight points to take the set, 26-24, and a 2-1 lead.
Dominican got off to a 12-7 lead in set four and led the rest of the way in evening the match up at 2-2, forcing a deciding fifth set.
The final set saw the two teams tied at 6-6 before the Mavericks came through with a 5-2 run to take an 11-8 lead, forcing a Dominican timeout. Out of the timeout, Mercy would secure the victory with a 4-1 run with a kill from Olson to end the match.
Velasco had 13 kills and 16 digs for a double-double, while Fernandes added nine kills and 22 digs. Heffernan chipped in 17 digs and Runge dished out 39 assists with five kills. Sophomore Leah Petty contributed ten kills.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks look to build off the victory when they play at Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday, November 12th at 12 p.m.
