DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts ECC foe Daemen University on Saturday, November 9th at 12 p.m. before hosting ECC foe D'Youville University on Sunday, November 10th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 9th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (12-8, 5-3 ECC), Daemen (15-6, 7-2 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Date/Time: Sunday, November 10th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (12-8, 5-3 ECC), D'Youville (9-14, 5-4 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Daemen
Daemen earned a 3-1 win over Mercy on September 28, 2024.
Last Meeting vs. D'Youville
D'Youville earned a 3-1 win over Mercy on September 29, 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 loss at AIC on Wednesday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek and freshman Grace Dilena who both had a team-high six kills. Dilena was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the third time on Monday and sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez and graduate student Julia Pomerleau were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week last week and senior Aitza Cruz, Bieniek and Dilena were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player and Rookie of the Week last week and Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. Bieniek and graduate student Julia Pomerleau were named to te 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 231 kills with 152 digs and 37 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 237 kills with 157 digs and 32 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.43). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 739 assists with 127 digs in 20 matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 183 kills and a team-high 62 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.12). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 97 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 197 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .410 hitting percentage. Mercy has dropped eight straight meetings to Daemen with the last win coming in 2019. The Mavericks are 5-2 all-time against D'Youville but have dropped the last two meetings.
Scouting the Wildcats
Daemen is coming off a 3-2 win over Molloy on Sunday for their fourth straight win. The Wildcats were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 26-6 last season, winning their third straight ECC Championship. The Wildcats have participated in the NCAA Tournament in five of the last seven years. Daemen has been led by Giselle Giraud who has a team-high 252 kills. Abby Ryan has 174 kills and Nahirka Malpica has 241 kills. Jasmine Brundage has a team-high 377 digs and Malpica has 250 digs. Avery Dole has dished out a team-high 553 assists and Molly Ryan has 298 assists. Amelia Armstrong has a team-high 52 blocks and Dole has a team-high 41 aces.
Scouting the Saints
D'Youville is coming off a 3-2 loss against Queens on Sunday. The Saints will play at St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday before playing at Mercy on Sunday. D'Youville was picked sixth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 7-18 last season. The Saints have been led by Madeline O'Brien who has a team-high 228 kills. Alex Darby is second with 221 kills and 252 digs and Emma Wlostowski has a team-high 342 digs. Mitha Hatwar has a team-high 647 assists and Giselle Ramirez has a team-high 76 blocks.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Wednesday, November 13th when they play at Molloy at 7 p.m.
