ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2024) – Despite double-doubles from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy), the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 24-26, 25-23, 13-15) decision to ECC foe Molloy University on Wednesday night at Bob Houlihan Court.

The Mavericks (14-9, 7-4 ECC) see their two-match winning streak come to an end, while the Lions (13-12, 4-7 ECC) snap a five-match losing streak and earn a split of the season series.

Mercy was led by Bieniek who had a team-high 21 kills with 10 digs. Dilena had 17 kills and a match-high 17 digs and Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 45 assists with 11 digs. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) added 13 kills and senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) recorded 13 digs. Junior Samantha Cooney (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) contributed a season-high 11 digs.

Molloy was led by Kiarra Roth who had a match-high 22 kills.

Molloy jumped out to an 8-1 lead in set one leading to a Mercy timeout. After the timeout, the Lions took a 10-2 lead before the Mavericks went on an 11-4 run to cut Molloy's lead to one, 14-13, forcing a Molloy timeout. The Lions scored three straight points to take a 17-13 lead before the Mavericks scored three unanswered points to make it 17-16 after a Bieniek kill. Molloy rallied with a 7-3 run to take a 24-19 lead. A Dilena and Pomerleau block made it 24-20 before a Mercy attack error gave the Lions the opening set, 25-20.

Mercy took a 5-1 lead in set two after a Bieniek kill. The Mavericks later increased the lead to nine, 15-6, after a Dilena kill. The Lions cut Mercy's lead to five, 19-14, before the Mavericks ended the set on a 6-2 run to take the set, 25-16, after a Cruz ace.

The Mavericks built a 4-1 lead in set three after a Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) kill. The Lions stormed back on a 7-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. Mercy continued to battle and went on a 9-1 run to take a 13-9 lead after a Bieniek kill. The Mavericks later held a 17-13 lead before Molloy went on an 8-4 run to tie the set at 21-21. Mercy scored two of the next three points to take a 23-22 lead after a Dilena kill before back-to-back Lion points gave the hosts a 24-23 lead. Molloy was serving for set point, but a Dilena kill evened the set again at 24-24. Kills from Erin Stanley and Roth gave Molloy the set, 26-24.

Mercy took a 10-7 lead in set four after a Rivera Rodriguez and Dilena block. The Lions scored the next four points to take an 11-10 lead, leading to a Mercy timeout. Following the timeout, the Mavericks went on a 7-2 run to take a 17-13 lead after a Bieniek kill. Mercy later held an 18-14 lead after a Molloy service error before the Lions came back on an 8-3 run to take a 22-21 lead. Mercy scored two consecutive points to take a 23-22 lead before a Molloy point evened the set at 23-23. A Maverick block and Dilena ace gave the Mavericks the 25-23 set four win and evened the match at 2-2.

The Mavericks took a 5-2 lead in set five, leading to a Molloy timeout. The Lions scored the next three points to tie the set at 5-5 before a Bieniek kill and Molloy attack error gave Mercy a 7-5 lead. The Lions tied the score at 7-7 before Mercy took a 9-8 lead after a Pomerleau kill. Another Pomerleau kill gave the Mavericks a 10-9 lead before the hosts recorded two points in a row to take a 11-10 lead. A Molloy attack error made it 11-11 before the Lions tallied the next three points to take a 14-11 lead. A Molloy service error and Bieniek kill got the Mavericks to within one, 14-13. However, a Lion block gave Molloy the set, 15-13, and the match in five sets.

Mercy hit .167 with 58 kills, 68 digs, nine blocks and eight aces. Molloy hit .170 with 55 kills, 62 digs, 14 blocks and 12 aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, November 16th when they host Queens for Senior Day at 12 p.m.