DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 19, 2021) – Powered by a double-double from junior Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) and a match-high 39 assists from junior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, P.R./Monroe College), the Mercy College volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) win over Caldwell University on Tuesday night at Victory Hall Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (9-11) snap a three-match losing streak, while the Cougars (2-14) have dropped seven matches in a row.
Schneid had a match-high 14 kills and a team-high 13 digs and four aces. Gonzalez had 39 assists and nine digs and senior Tynesha Adams (Prattville, Ala./Bethune Cookman University) had nine kills. Sophomore Jessica Angounou (Phoenix, Ariz./Betty H. Fairfax) had a career-high eight kills and senior Nilka Rivera Maldonado (Bayamon, P.R./Concordia College) had six kills and seven digs. Seniors Selma Vulic (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and Sophia Flanders (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) both had eight digs.
Caldwell was led by Reese Sherwood who had a team-high nine kills.
Mercy took a 6-2 lead in set one after a Rivera Maldonado kill. Caldwell followed with three straight points to make it 6-5 before the Mavericks went on a 6-1 run, capped off by three straight Schneid kills, to make it 12-6. The Cougars later made it 13-9, but Mercy closed the set on a 12-5 run to earn a 25-14 set one win.
Caldwell scored the first three points in set two. However, the Mavericks rallied with six straight points to take a 6-3 lead. An Adams kill later gave Mercy a 10-4 lead before the Cougars scored three straight points to get within 10-7. Caldwell later cut the deficit to 13-12 before Mercy ensued with a 6-1 run finished off by a Rivera Maldonado kill, which made it 19-13. The Mavericks led the rest of the way and took the set, 25-18.
The Cougars held a 13-11 lead in set three. Mercy responded with five straight points finished off by an Adams kill, which made it 16-13, leading to a Caldwell timeout. The Cougars later got within one, 21-20, before an Ayzaline Garay (San Juan, P.R./Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice) kill and Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel High School) ace gave Mercy a 23-20 lead. Caldwell scored a point after a timeout to get within two, 23-21. Back-to-back kills from Angounou and Adams gave Mercy the set and match.
Mercy had 44 kills, 52 digs, 40 assists, 10 aces, three blocks and hit. 272. Caldwell had 29 kills, 48 digs, 28 assists, two aces, three blocks and hit .184.
Head Coach Gary Preston Jr. and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, October 21st when they play at Wilmington at 7 p.m.
