OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Oct. 26, 2018) – Powered by double-doubles from sophomore Leilani Vazquez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Adelphi University) and senior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest), the Mercy College volleyball team overcame a 2-0 deficit to earn a 3-2 (22-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-13) victory over ECC foe NYIT on Friday night.

The Mavericks (12-14, 6-5 ECC) now have their most wins in a season since 2005 and sweep the season series with the Bears (12-14, 4-7 ECC) for the first time since 2005. Mercy currently sits a half game behind Bridgeport and LIU Post for the third and fourth spots in the ECC. Those two teams play tonight with the loser falling into a tie for fourth with the Mavericks. Mercy hosts LIU Post tomorrow at 12 p.m. at the Victory Hall Sports Center.

Vazquez had a season-high 20 kills and 27 digs and Runge added a season-high 45 assists along with 11 digs. Senior Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College) contributed 13 kills and freshman Loreto Nunez Casal (Pontevedra, Spain/Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) had 11 kills. Senior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) had 29 digs and sophomore Adriana Lopez-Soto (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame HS) had 19 digs. Sophomore Natalia Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Turabo University) recorded 11 digs.

NYIT was led by Tiffany Verni who had a match-high 21 kills along with 26 digs.

The Mavericks took a 7-3 lead in set one, but the Bears rallied and made it 11-10. Mercy increased the lead back to three, 19-16, after a Partridge kill. NYIT would close the set on a 9-3 run to take the set, 25-22.

The Bears built an 18-8 lead in set two and led the rest of the way in earning a 25-16 win to take what seemed to be a commanding 2-0 lead.

NYIT had a 10-5 lead in set three and looked to be pulling away from the Mavericks, but Mercy responded with four straight points to get within, 10-9, after a Partridge kill. The Bears increased the lead back to four, 15-11, but Mercy would come back with a 7-2 run to take an 18-17 lead after a Vazquez kill. NYIT followed with three straight points to take a 20-18 lead, leading to a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks battled back and tied the set up at 20-20. The set would be tied four more times before Mercy took the final two points of the set to earn a 26-24 set three win.

Mercy jumped out to a 13-10 lead in set four after a Partridge kill. NYIT responded with a 6-1 run to take a 16-14 lead, forcing a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, the Mavericks would end the set on an 11-3 run, including ending the set on an 8-0 run to tie the match up at 2-2.

The Mavericks took a 9-7 lead in set five and increased the lead to 12-8, forcing an NYIT timeout. After the timeout, the Bears would get within one, 14-13, but a Vazquez kill completed the comeback and gave Mercy the win.

Mercy hit .159 with 59 kills and 112 digs and NYIT hit .155 with 65 kills and 123 digs.

Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host LIU Post at 12 p.m.