DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 21, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at University of New Haven on Tuesday, October 22nd at 7 p.m. before hosting Bentley University on Thursday, October 24th at 6 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Tuesday, October 22nd 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (9-5), New Haven (12-7)
Location: West Haven, Conn.
Date/Time: Thursday, October 24th 6 p.m.
Records: Mercy (9-5), Bentley (13-4)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. New Haven
Mercy earned a 3-1 win over New Haven in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on November 30, 2023.
Last Meeting vs. Bentley
Bentley earned a 3-1 win over Mercy in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on December 1, 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 first-place Queens on Saturday for their third straight win. Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena and junior Gabriela Bieniek who each had a match-high 13 kills. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week, sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week and Bieniek and graduate student Julia Pomerleau were tabbed to the Honor Roll on Monday. Bieniek was named ECC Co-Player of the Week, Pomerleau was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, 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 on October 7th. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 161 kills with 100 digs and 23 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 183 kills with 129 digs and a team-high 27 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.45). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 509 assists with 84 digs in 14 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 126 kills and a team-high 44 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.39). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 57 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 156 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .465 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also leads the ECC with 1.00 blocks per set.
Scouting the Chargers
New Haven is coming off a 3-0 win at Franklin Pierce on Friday for their fifth straight win. The Chargers were picked second in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 23-10 last season, winning the NE10 Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. New Haven has been led by Grace Juergens who has a team-high 196 kills with 124 digs. Sofia Kamke has 149 kills and 162 digs and Peyton Mast has 122 kills. Tori Borton has a team-high 429 assists and Payton Malinoski has a team-high 205 digs. Kamke has a team-high 20 aces and Amber Williams has a team-high 51 blocks.
Scouting the Falcons
Bentley is coming off a 3-0 win at Southern Connecticut State on Friday. The Falcons will play at Assumption on Tuesday before playing at Mercy on Thursday. Bentley was picked third in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 25-7 last season, advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons have been led by Caitlin Wunder who has a team-high 151 kills. Sophia Poehlein has 148 kills and Tory Vitko has a team-high 354 assists. Jazzy Burke has a team-high 215 digs and Elizabeth Blinn has a team-high 35 aces and 82 blocks.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, October 26th when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 4 p.m.
