FLUSHING, N.Y. (Oct. 19, 2024) – Powered by three Mavericks recording double-digit kills, a match-high 37 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and a match-high 11 digs from senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-1 (25-16, 26-24, 16-25, 25-21) win over ECC foe Queens College on Saturday night at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (9-5, 3-3 ECC) have won three matches in a row and hand the Knights (15-6, 5-1 ECC) their first ECC loss of the season. Mercy also snaps Queens' eight-match winning streak.

Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) who had a match-high-tying 13 kills with a match-high six aces to go with four digs. Junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) had a match-high-tying 13 kills with seven digs and graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had 11 kills on .667 hitting. Rivera Rodriguez had 37 assists and four digs and Cruz had a match-high-tying 11 digs. Senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had four kills and senior Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel) had six digs.

Queens was led by Christina Franco who had a team-high 11 kills.

The opening set was tied at 5-5 before Mercy went on an 8-2 run to take a 13-7 lead after a Dilena kill. A Rivera Rodriguez kill later in the set gave the Mavericks a 20-11 lead before Queens went on a 4-1 spurt to make it 21-15. Mercy scored the next three points to take a 24-15 lead after a Pomerleau kill. An Olivia Hyman kill made it 24-16, but a Dilena kill gave the Mavericks the opening set, 25-16.

Queens held a 14-10 lead in set two before Mercy rallied with a 7-2 run to take a 17-16 lead after a sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) block. The Knights regained the lead at 20-19 before a Dilena kill tied the set at 20-20. Queens recorded four straight points to take a 24-20 lead and were one point from taking the set. However, the Mavericks had other plans and scored the final six points of the set, capped off by three straight Dilena aces, to give Mercy the second set, 26-24.

Mercy held an 8-7 lead in set three after a Pomerleau block before the Knights went on a 10-4 run to take a 17-12 lead. Queens later built a 24-15 lead and held on for the 25-16 set three win.

The Knights took a 3-1 lead in set four before Mercy recorded four straight points to take a 5-3 lead after a Bieniek and Rodriguez Fuentes block. The Mavericks later held an 8-6 lead before going on a 5-1 run to take a 13-7 lead after a Vizcaino block. Queens followed with a 4-1 run to make it 14-11, but Mercy quickly answered with five unanswered points to take a 19-11 lead. The Knights ensued with an 8-3 run to cut the Mavericks' lead to three, 22-19. Mercy scored two of the next three points to take a 24-20 lead before a Franco kill made it 24-21. A Despina Boudouris service error gave the Mavericks the set 25-21 and the match in four sets.

Mercy hit .279 with 46 kills, 41 digs, 10 blocks and 11 aces. Queens hit .198 with 43 kills, 36 digs, one block and 12 aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, October 22nd when they play at New Haven at 7 p.m.