DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Sunday, November 3rd at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Sunday, November 3rd 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (11-7, 4-3 ECC), Roberts Wesleyan (11-8, 2-4 ECC)
Location: Rochester, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Roberts Wesleyan
The Redhawks earned a 3-2 win at Mercy on October 6, 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 3-0 win at Caldwell on Tuesday. Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena who had a double-double and sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 38 assists. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on Monday and senior Aitza Cruz, junior Gabriela Bieniek and Dilena 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 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 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 209 kills with 134 digs and 33 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 673 assists with 112 digs in 18 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 167 kills and a team-high 53 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.35). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 89 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 185 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .444 hitting percentage. Mercy is 10-12 in their 22 meetings against Roberts Wesleyan and have won eight of the last nine meetings.
Scouting the Redhawks
Roberts Wesleyan is coming off a 3-0 win over Lock Haven on Sunday. The Redhawks will host STAC on Saturday before hosting 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 221 kills with 194 digs. Olivia Price has 218 kills and 188 digs and Jaycee Karelus has 156 kills. Caleigh Schroeder has a team-high 725 assists and 9.54 assists per set and Teagan Weber has a team-high 324 digs.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, November 6th when they play at AIC at 7 p.m.
