CALDWELL, N.J. (Oct. 29, 2024) – Powered by a double-double from freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and a match-high 38 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-14) win over Caldwell University on Tuesday night at the Newman Center.

The Mavericks (11-7) have won two matches in a row and defeat the Cougars (1-20) for the fifth straight time.

Mercy was led by Dilena who had a match-high 12 kills and 10 digs on .474 hitting with four aces. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 38 assists with four digs and senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had nine kills and six digs to go with a match-high nine aces. Sophomore Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) had eight kills and sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had eight kills on .545 hitting. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had six kills and senior Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel) had four digs.

Caldwell was led by Jordan Mack who had a team-high five kills and five digs.

Mercy scored the first four points of the opening set to take a 4-0 lead after a Dilena kill. Caldwell later cut the Mavericks lead to two, 6-4, before Mercy went on a 6-1 run to take a 12-5 lead after a Pomerleau kill. The Mavericks later held a 16-9 lead before an Alexa McEwan kill made it 16-10. Two kills from Dilena and one from Illes-Hair gave Mercy a 19-10 lead. An Alexis Nowak kill made it 19-11 before the Mavericks ended the set on a 6-1 run to take the set, 25-12.

Caldwell recorded the first point of the second set before Mercy went on a 13-3 run to take a 13-4 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. The Mavericks later held a 20-7 lead after a Vizcaino ace before the Cougars scored three straight points to make it 20-10. Mercy ended the set on a 5-2 run to take the second set, 25-13, after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in set three before Mercy scored 11 straight points to take an 11-1 lead after three straight Vizcaino aces. Caldwell ensued with an 8-3 run to make it 14-9, but the Mavericks rallied with four consecutive points to take an 18-9 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. A Mercy attack error made it 18-10, but the Mavericks went on a 6-2 run to take a 24-12 lead after a Dilena kill. Back-to-back Caldwell points made it 24-14 before a Cougar attack error gave the Mavericks the 25-14 set three win and the match in three sets.

Mercy hit .434 with 45 kills, 32 digs and 13 aces. Caldwell hit .150 with 18 kills, 16 digs, three blocks and two aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, November 3rd when they play at Roberts Wesleyan at 12 p.m.