DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 6, 2024) – Despite double-digit kills from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) and freshmen Lexi Stooksbury (Marengo, Ohio/Big Walnut) and Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and a career-high 58 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (25-21, 25-20, 25-27, 26-28, 13-15) decision to ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Sunday afternoon in their Making Strides Versus Cancer Pink Match at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.

The Mavericks (6-5, 0-3 ECC) have dropped four of their last five matches and fall to the Redhawks (10-5, 2-2 ECC) for the first time since 2018.

Mercy was led by Stooksbury who had a career-high and match-high 18 kills with four digs. Bieniek added 16 kills and a team-high 15 digs and Dilena had 16 kills and eight digs. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 58 assists with 11 digs, five aces and four blocks and sophomore Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) had eight kills and five blocks. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had six kills and five blocks and seniors Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) and Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel) each had nine digs.

Roberts Wesleyan was led by Olivia Price who had a team-high 17 kills and by Teagan Weber who had a match-high 23 digs.

The Redhawks took a 2-0 lead in set one before Mercy went on a 7-1 run to take a 7-3 lead after a Cruz ace. Roberts Wesleyan later cut the Mavericks' lead to two, 12-10, before Mercy went on a 6-2 run to take an 18-12 lead after a Stooksbury kill. The guests later got within three, 22-19, before a Dilena kill made it 23-19. The teams traded points to make it 24-20 before a Price kill made it 24-21. A Stooksbury kill gave Mercy the set, 25-21.

Mercy jumped out to a 5-2 lead in set two after a Bieniek kill. Roberts Wesleyan later cut the deficit to one, 15-14, before three straight Maverick points made it 18-14 after a Dilena kill. The Redhawks battled back and cut the Mercy lead to three, 23-20, before back-to-back Stooksbury kills gave Mercy the set 25-20.

Roberts Wesleyan scored the first three points of the third set and later held a 22-14 lead late in the set. Mercy continued to battle and ensued with nine straight points to take a 23-22 lead after a Pomerleau and Dilena block. The Redhawks scored the next two points to take a 24-23 lead, serving for set point. A Dilena kill made it 24-24 before a Redhawk kill and attack error tied the set at 25-25. A Price kill and Caleigh Schroeder ace gave Roberts Wesleyan the set, 27-25.

Mercy held a 4-3 lead in set four before the visitors went on a 9-4 run to take a 12-8 lead. The Mavericks quickly responded with a 10-2 run to take an 18-14 lead after a Stooksbury kill. Roberts Wesleyan rallied with a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 lead. Mercy stormed back with four consecutive points to take a 23-21 lead before the Redhawks scored two points in a row to tie the set at 23-23. A Dilena kill gave Mercy a 24-23 lead and the ability to serve for match point before a Camryn Karelus kill made it 24-24. Another Dilena kill regave the Mavericks a 25-24 lead and another serve for match point. The guests scored the next two points to make it 26-25 before a Stooksbury kill tied the set again at 26-26. A Mercy service error and Schroeder kill gave the Redhawks a 28-26 set four win.

The Mavericks built a 4-1 lead in set five after a Bieniek kill. Roberts Wesleyan scored three unanswered points to tie the set at 4-4 before a Redhawk service error and attack error gave Mercy a 6-4 lead. The Redhawks scored five of the next six points to take a 9-7 lead before a 3-1 spurt by the Mavericks tied the set at 10-10. The score was again tied at 12-12 before a Price kill and Mercy attack error gave the Redhawks a 14-12 lead. A Price attack error kept the Mavericks alive at 14-13, but a Price kill gave Roberts Wesleyan the set, 15-13, and the match in five sets.

Mercy hit .255 with 66 kills, 63 digs, 10 blocks and 10 aces and Roberts Wesleyan hit .182 with 58 kills, 59 digs, eight blocks and 13 aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, October 12th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 12 p.m.