NEW HAVEN, Conn. (Oct. 2, 2024) – Powered by a match-high 13 kills from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), a match-high 37 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and a team-high nine digs from senior Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21) win over Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday night at Pelz Gym.
The Mavericks (6-4) snap a three-match losing streak with the win and defeat the Owls (2-13) for the third straight time.
Mercy was led by Bieniek who had a match-high 13 kills with six digs. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 37 assists with eight digs and Whitfield had a season-high nine digs. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) added 12 kills on .550 hitting and freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) had nine kills and seven digs. Freshman Lexi Stooksbury (Marengo, Ohio/Big Walnut) had eight kills and senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) had seven digs.
Southern Connecticut State was led by Julia Jaworowski who had a team-high nine kills.
The Owls jumped out to an 11-7 lead in set one before Mercy scored four straight points to tie the set at 11-11 after a Stooksbury kill. Southern Connecticut State regained the lead at 13-11 before the Mavericks rallied with three straight points to take a 14-13 lead after a Bieniek block. The Owls later tied the set at 17-17 before Mercy scored the next four points to take a 21-17 lead after a junior Marichelle Rodriguez (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) ace. The hosts made it 21-18 before the Mavericks ended the set with four consecutive points to take the set 25-18 after a Pomerleau kill.
Southern Connecticut State held a 12-10 lead in set two before Mercy went on a 13-4 run to take a 23-16 lead after a Bieniek kill. The Owls scored four of the next five points to make it 24-20 before a sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) kill gave Mercy the 25-20 set two win.
Mercy built a 6-3 lead in set three after a Stooksbury block. The Owls ensued with an 8-4 run to take an 11-10 lead. Southern Connecticut State later held a 15-13 lead before back-to-back points by Mercy tied the set at 15-15. The score was later tied at 17-17 following a Dilena kill before the Owls tallied three consecutive points to take a 20-17 lead. Mercy quickly responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by a Stooksbury kill, to take a 23-20 lead. A Maverick service error made it 23-21, but back-to-back kills from Pomerleau and Dilena gave Mercy the 25-21 set three win and the match in three sets.
Mercy hit .302 with 47 digs, 45 digs, six blocks and nine aces. Southern Connecticut State hit .209 with 29 kills, 30 digs, five blocks and five aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, October 6th when they host Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.
