PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2024) – Powered by double-doubles from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and a match-high 16 digs from senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 25-18) win over Pace University on Tuesday night at the Goldstein Fitness Center.
The Mavericks (4-1) have won four matches in a row and defeat the Setters (3-2) for the fourth straight time.
Mercy was led by Bieniek who had a match-high 15 kills with 10 digs and three aces. Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 41 assists with 11 digs, three aces, four blocks and three kills. Cruz had a match-high-tying 16 digs with one ace and Dilena had 11 kills and 10 digs. Graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had nine kills on .533 hitting with three blocks and senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had seven kills.
Pace was led by Daniella Abbastante who had a team-high 13 kills.
Mercy jumped out to a 9-5 lead in set one after a Dilena kill. The Setters scored the next three points to make it 9-8, but the Mavericks rallied with a 6-1 run to take a 15-9 lead after a Vizcaino kill. Pace battled back and cut Mercy's lead to two, 22-20, but a Pomerleau kill and Setter attack error gave the Mavericks a 24-20 lead. A Brynnley Bryant kill made it 24-21 before Bieniek finished off the set with a kill to give Mercy a 25-21 set one win.
Pace took a 5-4 lead in set two before Mercy ensued with a 6-0 run to take a 10-5 lead after a Bieniek ace. The Setters later tied the set at 15-15 before the Mavericks stormed back with an 8-0 run to take a 23-15 lead. Pace recorded four of the next five points to make it 24-19, but a Pomerleau kill gave Mercy the 25-19 set two win.
The third set was tied at 4-4 after a Vizcaino kill before Pace went on a 9-3 run to take a 13-7 lead. Mercy went on a 9-4 run to cut the Setters lead to one, 17-16, before Pace netted three of the next four points to take a 20-17 lead. The hosts later held a 23-21 lead before the Mavericks scored three consecutive points to take a 24-23 lead after a Cruz ace. Pace scored the final three points of the set to take the set, 26-24.
Mercy scored the first four points of the fourth set and later held a 9-2 lead after a Vizcaino ace. A sophomore Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) kill made it 11-3 and the Mavericks later took a 19-11 lead after another Vizcaino kill. Pace scored the next three points to make it 19-14, but Mercy tallied four unanswered points to take a 23-14 lead after a Rivera Rodriguez and Illes-Hair block. The Setters recorded four of the next five points to make it 24-18, but a Dilena kill gave Mercy a 25-18 set four win and the match in four sets.
Mercy hit .227 with 49 kills, 54 digs, seven blocks and 11 aces. Pace hit .120 with 45 kills, 47 digs, 12 blocks and five aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, September 20th when they host Felician at 7 p.m.
