DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2023) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts American International College in a non-conference matchup on Thursday, November 9th at 6 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, November 9th 6 p.m.
Records: Mercy (12-7), American International (15-8)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. American International
AIC earned a 3-1 win over Mercy on September 13, 2022.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks earned a 3-1 win over Roberts Wesleyan on Sunday. Mercy went 13-7 last season and qualified for the ECC Championship for the third straight season. The Mavericks finished with their first winning record since 2005 and just missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. Mercy earned an NCAA Regional Ranking during the latter part of the 2022 season and will look to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005. The Mavericks were picked in a tie for second in the ECC Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for Head Coach Ana Todorovic is senior Larissa Schneid who was named First Team All-ECC last season after leading the team with 196 kills and ranking third on the team with 168 digs. Last year's ECC Co-Setter of the Year senior Yarianne Gonzalez also returns after recording a team-high 728 assists with 180 digs a year ago. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau was named Second Team All-ECC last season and returns in 2023 after hitting an impressive .364 with 167 kills and 30 blocks. Junior Anyelainy Vizcaino was tabbed All-ECC Honorable Mention last season after ranking second on the team in kills (174) and aces (29). Schneid leads the Mavericks this season with 254 kills and is third in the ECC with 3.79 kills per set. She also leads the team with 203 digs and has been named to the ECC Honor Roll seven times. Senior Ayzaline Garay is fourth on the team with 78 kills and is fourth on the team with 104 digs. Gonzalez has a team-high 607 assists and leads the ECC with 9.95 assists per set. Gonzalez was named ECC Setter of the Week on October 16th and has been named to the ECC Honor Roll five times. Pomerleau is hitting a team-high .377 with 147 kills and a team-high 52 blocks. Junior Aitza Cruz is second on the team with 194 digs. The Mavericks are currently one of 10 teams under consideration for an NCAA Tournament berth in the first regional rankings released last Wednesday. Mercy has won three matches in a row entering Thursday's match and have secured their fourth straight ECC Championship berth. Mercy is 1-6 in their last seven meetings against AIC with the lone win coming in 2019.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
American International is coming off a 3-1 win at Saint Michael's on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets are the two-time reigning NE10 Regular Season Champion and were picked first in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 30-3 last season falling in the NCAA Tournament East Region Semifinal. The Yellow Jackets are one of 10 teams under consideration for an NCAA Tournament berth in the first regional rankings released last week. American International is led by junior Paola Soto Burgos who has a team-high 219 kills with 197 digs and 25 aces. Junior Aleksandra Ivanovic has 202 kills, 33 aces and a team-high 77 blocks. Junior Amber Williams is third on the team with 168 kills and senior Kristina Peric is fourth with 157 kills. Junior Alice Di Francesco leads the Yellow Jackets with 706 assists and sophomore Perla Rosa has a team-high 313 digs.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, November 11th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas for Senior Day at 2 p.m.
