DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 9, 2024) – Powered by a match-high 23 kills from freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy), a double-double from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) and a match-high 39 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 28-26, 25-16) win over regionally-ranked Daemen University in an ECC matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (13-8, 6-3 ECC) have won four of their last five matches and defeat the three-time defending ECC Champion Wildcats (15-7, 7-3 ECC) for the first time since 2019.
Mercy was led by Dilena who had a career-high 23 kills on .450 hitting with four digs. Bieniek had 11 kills and a match-high 14 digs and Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 39 assists with six digs. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) added seven kills on .600 hitting and sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had four kills and six blocks. Sophomore Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) and freshman Lexi Stooksbury (Marengo, Ohio/Big Walnut) both contributed three kills each.
Daemen was led by Abby Ryan and Giselle Giraud who both had a team-high 13 kills.
Daemen jumped out to a 4-1 lead in set one and later held a 15-10 lead. Mercy scored three straight points to make it 15-13 before the Wildcats scored five unanswered points to take a 20-13 lead. Daemen later held a 22-16 lead and looked to be on the verge of taking the first set. However, the Mavericks closed the set on a 9-1 run to take the opening set, 25-23, after an Avery Craig attack error.
Mercy built a 12-7 lead in set two before Daemen went on a 13-3 run to take a 20-15 lead. The Mavericks went on a 3-1 spurt to make it 21-18 after a Dilena kill. The Wildcats closed the set with four straight points to take the set, 25-18.
The Wildcats took a 7-5 lead in set three before Mercy went on a 6-1 run to take an 11-8 lead. Daemen scored three straight points to tie the set at 11-11 before the Mavericks ensued with a 5-1 run to take a 16-12 lead after a Bieniek and Pomerleau block. Mercy later held a 21-17 lead before Daemen scored the next three points to make it 21-20. Back-to-back kills from Rivera Rodriguez and Bieniek gave Mercy a 23-20 lead. The Wildcats responded with four consecutive points to take a 24-23 lead, serving for set point. A Daemen service error tied the set at 24-24 before a Ryan kill gave the Wildcats a 25-24 lead and serve for the set. Mercy scored the next two points to take a 26-25 lead before an Amelia Armstrong kill tied the set at 26-26. Kills from Pomerleau and Dilena gave Mercy the set, 28-26, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was tied at 6-6 before a Daemen service error and Bieniek ace gave Mercy an 8-6 lead. The Wildcats later cut the Mavericks' lead to one, 9-8, before Mercy went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-8 lead after a Dilena kill. The Mavericks increased the lead to 12, 22-10, after a Pomerleau kill before Daemen scored six of the next seven points to make it 23-16. However, a Wildcat service error and Bieniek ace gave Mercy the 25-16 set four win and the match in four sets.
Mercy hit .298 with 52 kills, 43 digs, eight blocks and 11 aces. Daemen hit .245 with 44 kills, 26 digs, 10 blocks and 17 aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they host D'Youville at 12 p.m.
