DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, October 26th at 4 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, October 26th 4 p.m.
Records: Mercy (9-7, 3-3 ECC), St. Thomas Aquinas (6-13, 0-6 ECC)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Mercy earned a 3-1 win over STAC on October 12, 2024.
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 loss to Bentley on Thursday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek who had a match-high 20 kills and by sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a double-double. Freshman Grace Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday and Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. Bieniek and graduate student Julia Pomerleau were named to the Honor Roll. 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 last week. 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 178 kills with 118 digs and 27 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 215 kills with 142 digs and a team-high 29 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.52). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 582 assists with 105 digs in 16 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 143 kills and a team-high 51 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.21). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 62 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 176 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .440 hitting percentage.
Scouting the Spartans
STAC is coming off a 3-0 win over Caldwell on Thursday. The Spartans were picked fifth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 5-15 last season. STAC has been led by Evie Paalman who has a team-high 214 kills and 193 digs with 16 blocks and 26 aces. Greta Santini has 174 kills with 155 digs and Lea Venghaus has a team-high 333 assists. Isis Barrett has a team-high 53 blocks and 28 aces.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, October 29th when they play at Caldwell at 7 p.m.
