DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts ECC foe Molloy University on Wednesday, October 16th at 7 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 16th 7 p.m.

Records: Mercy (7-5, 1-3 ECC), Molloy (11-6, 2-2 ECC)

Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Molloy

Molloy earned a 3-1 win over Mercy on November 17, 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 3-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek who had a double-double and by sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 52 assists. Bieniek was named ECC Co-Player of the Week on Monday, Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week, graduate student Julia Pomerleau was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and freshman Grace Dilena was named Rookie of the Week. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll for the third straight week last week. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 134 kills with 86 digs and 15 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 159 kills with 112 digs and a team-high 21 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.53). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 433 assists with 72 digs in 12 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 101 kills and a team-high 38 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.56). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 53 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 143 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .455 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also is second in the ECC with 0.91 blocks per set. Mercy is 10-25 in their last 35 matches against Molloy and have dropped the last two meetings.

Scouting the Lions

Molloy is coming off a 3-1 loss at Queens on October 10th for their second straight loss. The Lions were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 14-14 last season. Molloy has been led by ECC Preseason Player of the Year Kiarra Roth who has a team-high 283 kills with 141 digs and 28 blocks. Isabella Rios has 166 kills and 182 digs and Julia Zalta has a team-high 521 assists. Aria Miller has a team-high 265 digs and Sara Hiebert has a team-high 42 blocks.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Saturday, October 19th when they play at Queens at 5:30 p.m.