AMHERST, N.Y. (Nov. 6, 2021) – Despite a double-double from junior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, P.R./Monroe College), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (18-25, 13-25, 24-26) decision to ECC foe Daemen College on Saturday afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (11-13, 6-3 ECC) see their two-match winning streak come to an end, while the Wildcats (18-7, 11-0 ECC) secure the top seed in the ECC Tournament and the ECC Regular Season Championship.

Gonzalez had a team-high 18 assists with 11 digs and junior Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) had a team-high eight kills with nine digs. Senior Selma Vulic (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) had a team-high 13 digs and junior Stéphanie Lankhorst (Apeldoorn, Netherlands/Koninklijke Scholengemeenschap Apeldoorn) had six kills.

Daemen was led by Caitlyn Meyer who had a match-high 12 kills.

Mercy took a 5-3 lead in set one after a Vulic ace. The Wildcats answered with a 10-3 run to take a 13-8 lead. The Mavericks battled back and tied the set at 16-16, but Daemen closed the set on a 9-2 run to take the set, 25-18.

Daemen jumped out to an 8-3 lead in set two, leading to a Mercy timeout. The Wildcats later increased the lead to 21-10 and held on for the 25-13 set two win.

Mercy built a 17-12 lead in set three and looked to be on the verge of winning the set. The Mavericks later led 24-21 after a Cristy Encarnacion (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands/Alcorn State University) block and needed just one point to prolong the match. The Wildcats went on to score the final five points of the set to earn a 26-24 set three win.

Mercy had 27 kills, 25 assists, 44 digs, six blocks, two aces and hit .046. Daemen had 41 kills, 35 assists, 51 digs, three blocks, four aces and hit .267.

Head Coach Gary Preston Jr. and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at D'Youville at 12 p.m.