DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts ECC foe Queens College for Senior Day on Saturday, November 16th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 16th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (14-9, 7-4 ECC), Queens (19-9, 9-2 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Queens
Mercy earned a 3-1 win at Queens on October 19, 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 3-2 loss at Molloy on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by junior Gabriela Bieniek, sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez and freshman Grace Dilena who all ha double-doubles. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday, Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week, senior Aitza Cruz was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Bieniek and graduate student Julia Pomerleau were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the third time 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 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 284 kills with 180 digs and 39 aces. Bieniek has 280 kills with 184 digs and a team-high 43 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.46). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 861 assists with 154 digs in 23 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 215 kills and a team-high 73 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.13). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 99 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 229 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .418 hitting percentage. Mercy looks to match their win total from last year with a win and looks to sweep the season series with Queens for the first time since 2021. Mercy has secured their fifth straight ECC Championship berth and has earned the No. 3 seed. The Mavericks will play in the ECC Semifinals next Friday, November 22nd. Mercy is also ranked seventh in the latest NCAA East Regional Rankings released on Wednesday.
Scouting the Knights
Queens is coming off a 3-1 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday. The Knights were picked fourth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 13-11 last season. Queens can win the ECC Regular Season Championship outright with a win over Mercy on Saturday. The Knights are ranked sixth in the latest NCAA East Regional Rankings released on Wednesday. Queens is led by three-time ECC Player of the Week and five-time Rookie of the Week Madi Hathaway who has 240 kills, 223 digs and 305 assists. Kendall Conrad has a team-high 265 kills with 59 blocks and one-time ECC Player of the Week Christina Franco has 198 kills and 319 digs. One-time ECC Defensive Player of the Week Sarah Munn has a team-high 479 digs and Lindsay Osterhoudt has a team-high 84 blocks. Despina Boudouris has a team-high 660 assists.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Friday, November 22nd in the ECC Championship Semifinals.
