DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 16, 2024) – Powered by three Mavericks recording double-digit kills and a match-high 47 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 25-19, 26-24) Senior Day win over first-place ECC foe Queens College on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.

In a ceremony prior to the game, the Mavericks honored seniors Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine), Sydney Whitfield (Clemson, S.C./D.W Daniel), Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) and Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) for their contributions to the program.

The Mavericks (15-9, 8-4 ECC) sweep the season series with the Knights (19-10, 9-3 ECC) and match their win total from last year. Mercy finishes with their most ECC wins since 2021. The Mavericks have secured the No. 3 seed in next week's ECC Championship and will face No. 2 seed Queens in a Semifinal on Friday, November 22nd at Daemen University at 7:30 p.m.

Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) who had a match-high 14 kills with a team-high 11 digs. Sophomore Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) had a career-high 11 kills with four blocks and Pomerleau had 10 kills and seven blocks. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 47 assists with seven digs and Vizcaino had eight kills, 10 digs and seven blocks. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had a career-high-tying eight kills with seven blocks and Whitfield and Cruz both added four digs.

Queens was led by Madi Hathaway who had 12 kills, 12 assists and 10 digs.

Queens took a 5-2 lead in set one before a Bieniek kill made it 5-3. The Knights followed with a 12-4 run to take a 17-7 lead. The Mavericks stormed back on a 7-1 run to make it 18-14 after a Rodriguez Fuentes and Bieniek block. The guests then went on a 6-1 run to take a 24-15 lead, serving for set point. Mercy scored the next four points to make it 24-19 after a Pomerleau kill, but a Maverick attack error gave Queens the set, 25-19.

The Knights jumped out to a 5-1 lead in set two before Mercy scored the next three points to make it 5-4 after a Bieniek and Rodriguez Fuentes block. Queens later held a 16-13 lead before three straight Maverick points tied the set at 16-16 after a Vizcaino kill. The Knights took an 18-16 lead before back-to-back kills from Rodriguez Fuentes and Pomerleau made it 18-18. A Mercy service error gave Queens a 19-18 lead. However, the Mavericks tallied three points in a row to take a 21-19 lead after a Pomerleau and Illes-Hair block. Queens scored two of the next three points to make it 22-21 before Mercy closed the set with three straight points to take the set, 25-21.

Mercy built an 8-4 lead in set three after a Bieniek ace and later held a 14-7 lead. The Knights later cut Mercy's lead to four, 18-14, before back-to-back Vizcaino kills made it 20-14. Queens followed with a 5-3 spurt to make it 23-19, but the Mavericks closed the set with back-to-back points to earn the 25-19 set three win.

The Mavericks held a 3-0 lead in set four after an Illes-Hair kill. Queens scored eight straight points to take an 8-3 lead and later held a 10-4 lead. Mercy followed with a 4-1 run to make it 11-8 after an Illes-Hair kill. The Knights scored four of the next five points to take a 15-9 lead and the visitors later held a 19-14 lead. The Mavericks answered with a 5-0 run to tie the set at 19-19 after a Bieniek kill. The teams traded points twice to make it 21-21 after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. A Bieniek ace and Queens attack error gave Mercy a 23-21 lead before the Knights recorded the next three points to take a 24-23 lead, serving for set point. The Mavericks finished off the set with three consecutive points, capped off by a Pomerleau kill, giving Mercy the 26-24 set four win and the match in four sets.

Mercy hit .223 with 54 kills, 43 digs, 14 blocks and five aces. Queens hit .139 with 44 kills, 42 digs, 10 blocks and seven aces.