DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 11, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at ECC foe Molloy University on Wednesday, November 13th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 13th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (14-8, 7-3 ECC), Molloy (12-12, 3-7 ECC)
Location: Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Molloy
Mercy earned a 3-1 win over Molloy on October 16, 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 over D'Youville on Sunday. Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena, junior Gabriela Bieniek and graduate student Julia Pomerleau who recorded double-digit kills. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday, sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week, senior Aitza Cruz was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Bieniek and Pomerleau were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the third time on last week and Rivera Rodriguez and Pomerleau were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on October 28th and senior Aitza Cruz, Bieniek and Dilena were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on October 21st and Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. 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 a team-high 267 kills with 163 digs and 38 aces. Bieniek has 259 kills with 174 digs and 42 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.41). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 816 assists with 142 digs in 22 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 202 kills and a team-high 69 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.20). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 97 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 216 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .426 hitting percentage. Mercy looks to match their win total from last year with a win and looks to sweep the season series with Molloy for the first time since 2021. The Mavericks were one of 10 teams under consideration for an NCAA Tournament spot in the first regional rankings released last week.
Scouting the Lions
Molloy is coming off a 3-0 loss to Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday for their fifth straight loss. The Lions were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 14-14 last season. Molloy was one of 10 teams under consideration for an NCAA Tournament spot in the first regional rankings released last week. The Lions are led by ECC Preseason Player of the Year Kiarra Roth who has a team-high 392 kills with 198 digs. Isabella Rios has 212 kills and 255 digs and Julia Zalta has a team-high 744 assists. Aria Miller has a team-high 320 digs and Sara Hiebert has a team-high 57 blocks. Miller also has a team-high 51 aces.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, November 16th when they host Queens at 12 p.m.
