ALBANY, N.Y.  (Oct. 31, 2023) - Powered by a match-high 12 kills from junior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC),  a match-high 28 assists from senior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) and a team-high 12 digs from junior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-16) win over The College of Saint Rose on Tuesday night at Nolan Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (11-7) have won two matches in a row and defeat the Golden Knights (6-17) for the first time since 2004. Mercy had dropped 14 straight meetings to Saint Rose and win at Saint Rose for the first time since 1999. 

Vizcaino had a match-high 12 kills on .400 hitting and Gonzalez also had nine digs and five kills. Cruz had 12 digs and senior Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) had nine kills and seven digs. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had six kills and senior Tanializ Rivera (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Concordia College) had four kills. Freshman Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) added four kills, two block solos and three block assists. 

Saint Rose was led by Teresa Moulder who had a team-high eight kills.

The Golden Knights held a 2-1 lead in set one before Mercy scored five straight points to take a 6-2 lead after a Schneid and Illes-Hair block. Saint Rose later tied the set at 7-7 before Mercy scored the next four points to take an 11-7 lead after a freshman Alanis Calderon (Canovanas, Puerto Rico/CIEM Privarte School) ace. Saint Rose tallied back-to-back points to make it 11-9 before the Mavericks stormed back on a 12-4 run to take a 23-13 lead after a Schneid kill. Two straight Saint Rose points made it 23-15 before a kill from Schneid and a Saint Rose attack error gave Mercy the opening set, 25-15. 

The Mavericks jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two and later held a 12-6 lead after a Schneid ace. Saint Rose battled back and cut Mercy's lead to one, 15-14, but the Mavericks went on an 8-2 run to take a 23-16 lead. The Golden Knights later cut Mercy's lead to five, 24-19, but a Gonzalez kill gave Mercy the second set, 25-19. 

Saint Rose held a 7-6 lead in set three before Mercy went on a 5-1 run to take an 11-8 lead. The Golden Knights later tied the set at 12-12 before the Mavericks ended the set on a 13-4 run, finished off by a Pomerleau and Rivera block, to give Mercy the 25-16 set three win and the match in three sets. 

Mercy hit .295 with 40 kills, 40 digs, 10 blocks and six aces. Saint Rose hit .043 with 25 kills, 28 digs, four blocks and five aces. 

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, November 5th when they host Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.