DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 10, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, October 10th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, October 12th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (6-5, 0-3 ECC), St. Thomas Aquinas (5-10, 0-3 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Mercy earned a 3-0 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on November 11, 2023.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy went 15-9 last season, earning their first NCAA Tournament win since 2001 in their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005. The Mavericks qualified for the ECC Championship for the fourth straight season and finished with their most wins in a season since 2005. Third-year head coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks were picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll released last month. Returning for the Mavericks is graduate student Julia Pomerleau who has been named Second Team All-ECC each of the last two seasons. Pomerleau started all 24 matches last season and had 205 kills, 63 blocks and hit .401. She led the team in blocks and hitting percentage and was second in kills. The graduate student ranked 10th nationally in hitting percentage and was third in the ECC in blocks. Also returning is senior Anyelainy Vizcaino who was named All-ECC Honorable Mention in 2022. Vizcaino had 200 kills, 32 aces, 95 digs and 23 blocks in 2023. She led the team in aces and was third in kills. Senior Aitza Cruz is also back in the fold after being named ECC Defensive Player of the Week once last year. Cruz had 247 digs a year ago, ranking second on the team. Sophomore Mia Illes-Hair is also back after being named ECC Rookie of the Week once last season. She recorded 78 kills, 50 blocks, 15 aces and hit .294. Junior Samantha Cooney returns after posting 119 digs and sophomore Alanis Calderon is back after posting 81 assists, 19 aces and 36 digs in 2023.
The Mavericks are coming off a 3-2 loss against Roberts Wesleyan on Sunday. Mercy was led by freshman Lexi Stooksbury who had a match-high 18 kills. Sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez added a match-high 58 assists. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll for the third straight week on Monday. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 120 kills with 80 digs and 14 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 142 kills with 97 digs and a team-high 21 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.46) and is sixth in aces per set (0.51). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 381 assists with 64 digs in 11 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 89 kills and a team-high 33 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.30). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 53 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 136 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .441 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also is second in the ECC with 0.95 blocks per set.
Scouting the Spartans
The Spartans are coming off a 3-1 win over Post on Thursday. St. Thomas Aquinas was picked fifth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 5-15 last season. The Spartans are led by Evie Paalman who has a team-high 180 kills and 161 digs. Greta Santini has 136 kills and 134 digs and Anna Gazzerro has a team-high 235 assists. Isis Barrett has a team-high 45 blocks and Gazzerro has a team-high 28 aces.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, October 16th when they host Molloy at 7 p.m.
