DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team plays at Pace University on Tuesday, September 17th at 7 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 17th 7 p.m.

Records: Mercy (3-1), Pace (3-1)

Location: Pleasantville, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Pace

Mercy earned a 3-0 win over Pace on August 31, 2023.  

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 win over Dominican on Thursday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek who had a match-high 18 kills, by sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 36 assists and by freshman Grace Dilena who had a match-high 12 digs. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 50 kills with 33 digs and six aces. Bieniek has a team-high 60 kills with 48 digs and a team-high 17 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (4.00) and leads the ECC in aces per set (1.13). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 153 assists with 19 digs in four matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 31 kills and a team-high 13 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez is second in the ECC in assists per set (10.20). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 33 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 52 digs. Mercy looks to defeat Pace for the fourth straight time.

Scouting the Setters

Pace is coming off a 3-1 loss to Bridgeport on Tuesday. The Setters were picked sixth in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 13-11 last season, falling in the NE10 Championship. Pace has been led by Yasmeen Muhammad who has a team-high 49 kills and 3.50 kills per set with a team-high 15 blocks. Jala Drayton has 29 kills and Brynnley Bryant and Karielys Melendez both have 22 kills. Annika Blas-Cedeno has a team-high 45 digs and Georgette Cosentino has a team-high 59 assists.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Friday, September 20th when they host Felician at 7 p.m.