DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2024) – Powered by a double-double from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), a match-high 43 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and a match-high 17 digs from senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 24-26, 25-18) win over Assumption University on Tuesday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (2-1) have won two matches in a row and defeat the Greyhounds (0-3) for the second straight time.
Mercy was led by Bieniek who had a match-high-tying 13 kills with 16 digs and three aces. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 43 assists with two aces and two kills and Cruz had a match-high 17 digs with two aces. Freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) had a match-high-tying 13 kills with seven digs and senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had 12 kills. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had nine kills on .750 hitting and sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had six kills.
Assumption was led by Carly Goodhue who had a team-high 10 kills.
Mercy jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set one before Assumption scored the next four points to tie the set at 4-4. The Mavericks rallied with a 13-5 run to take a 17-9 lead after a Pomerleau kill. The Greyhounds scored the next two points to make it 17-11 before Mercy recorded four of the next five points to take a 21-12 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. Assumption later made it 23-15 before a Bieniek kill and ace gave Mercy the opening set, 25-15.
The Mavericks took a 3-0 lead in set two before the Greyhounds battled back and tied the set 5-5. Mercy stormed back with three straight points to take an 8-5 lead. Assumption came back on an 11-6 run to take a 16-14 lead. The Mavericks netted six of the next seven points to retake the lead, 20-17. Mercy later held a 22-19 lead before kills from Pomerleau, Vizcaino and Dilena gave the Mavericks a 25-19 set two win.
Assumption scored the first point of the third set before Mercy went on a 6-1 run, finished off by back-to-back Cruz aces, to give the Mavericks a 6-2 lead. Mercy later held a 15-10 lead after a Vizcaino kill. The Greyhounds went on a 12-5 run to take a 22-20 lead before two straight kills from Pomerleau tied the set at 22-22. Assumption scored the next two points to take a 24-22 lead. However, a Greyhound service error and a Vizcaino and Rodriguez Fuentes block tied the set again at 24-24. Back-to-back Carly Goodhue kills gave Assumption the 26-24 set three win.
The Greyhounds held a 7-4 lead in set four before Mercy went on a 7-1 run to take an 11-8 lead. Assumption battled back and tied the set at 15-15. The Mavericks scored the next six points to take a 21-15 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. The Greyhounds later cut the deficit to four, 22-18, but two kills from Dilena and a Pomerleau and Rivera Rodriguez block gave Mercy the 25-18 set four win and the match in four sets.
Mercy hit .308 with 55 kills, 50 digs, seven blocks and nine aces. Assumption hit .082 with 31 kills, 39 digs, seven blocks and nine aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, September 12th when they play at Dominican at 7 p.m.
