DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 3, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Sunday, October 6th at 12 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Sunday, October 6th 12 p.m.

Records: Mercy (6-4, 0-2 ECC), Roberts Wesleyan (8-5, 0-2 ECC)

Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan

Mercy earned a 3-1 win over Roberts Wesleyan on November 5, 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 3-0 win at Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek who had a match-high 13 kills, by sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 37 assists and by senior Sydney Whitfield who had a team-high nine digs. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll for the second straight week last week. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 104 kills with 72 digs and 13 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 126 kills with 82 digs and a team-high 21 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.50) and is fifth in aces per set (0.58). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 323 assists with 53 digs in 10 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 83 kills and a team-high 28 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.09). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 53 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 127 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .483 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also is second in the ECC with 0.95 blocks per set. Mercy is 10-11 all-time against Roberts Wesleyan but have won the last eight meetings.

Scouting the Redhawks

Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 3-2 loss against Queens on Sunday. The Redhawks will play at St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday before playing at Mercy on Sunday. Roberts Wesleyan was picked seventh in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 8-14 last season. The Redhawks have been led by Sydney Yanak who has a team-high 158 kills with 129 digs. Olivia Price has 149 kills and 141 digs and Jaycee Karelus has 109 kills. Caleigh Schroeder has a team-high 514 assists and 9.88 assists per set and Teagan Weber has a team-high 237 digs. Celine Malosa has a team-high 39 blocks and leads the ECC with 0.98 blocks per set.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Saturday, October 12th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 12 p.m.