DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 28, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at Caldwell University on Tuesday, October 29th at 7 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Tuesday, October 29th 7 p.m.

Records: Mercy (10-7), Caldwell (1-19)

Location: Caldwell, N.J.

Last Meeting vs. Caldwell

Mercy earned a 3-0 win over Caldwell on September 8, 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 3-2 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday. Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena, senior Anyelainy Vizcaino and graduate student Julia Pomerleau who all had double-digit kills. Sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on Monday and junior Gabriela Bieniek, Dilena and senior Aitza Cruz were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week last week and Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. Junior Gabriela Bieniek and 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 on October 14th. 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 197 kills with 124 digs and 29 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 635 assists with 108 digs in 17 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 161 kills and a team-high 53 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.24). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 80 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 182 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .443 hitting percentage. Mercy has won four straight meetings against Caldwell.

Scouting the Cougars

Caldwell is coming off a 3-0 loss to Goldey-Beacom on Saturday for their seventh straight loss. The Cougars were picked fifth in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 3-22 last season. Caldwell has been led by Wyette Schubert-Brown who has a team-high 155 kills with 113 digs. Alexa McEwan has 97 kills and a team-high 40 blocks and Ava Railton has a team-high 138 digs. Jordan Mack has a team-high 210 assists with 115 digs and a team-high 33 aces.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Sunday, November 3rd when they play at Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.