DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 17, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at ECC foe Queens College on Saturday, October 19th at 5:30 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Saturday, October 19th 5:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (8-5, 2-3 ECC), Queens (15-5, 5-0 ECC)

Location: Flushing, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Queens

Mercy earned a 3-0 win over Queens on October 29, 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 Molloy on Wednesday. Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena and junior Gabriela Bieniek who both had double-doubles. Bieniek was named ECC Co-Player of the Week, graduate student Julia Pomerleau was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week and Dilena was named Rookie of the Week on Monday. 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 148 kills with 96 digs and 17 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 170 kills with 122 digs and a team-high 25 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.47). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 472 assists with 80 digs in 13 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 115 kills and a team-high 42 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.49). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 53 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 145 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .451 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also is second in the ECC with 0.96 blocks per set. Mercy is 13-23 in their last 36 meetings against Queens but are 9-2 in the last 11 matchups.  

Scouting the Knights

Queens is coming off a 3-0 win over STAC on Tuesday for their eighth straight win. The Knights were picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 13-11 last season. Queens is led by two-time ECC Player of the Week and four-time Rookie of the Week Madi Hathaway who has 157 kills, 228 assists and 169 digs. Kendall Conrad has a team-high 202 kills and one-time ECC Player of the Week Christina Franco has 146 kills. One-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week Sarah Munn has a team-high 373 digs and Despina Boudouris has a team-high 469 assists.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, October 22nd when they play at New Haven at 7 p.m.