DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 19, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts Felician University on Friday, September 20th at 7 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Saturday, September 20th 7 p.m.

Records: Mercy (4-1), Felician (2-7)

Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Felician

Mercy earned a 3-2 win over Felician on September 30, 2018.  

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 3-1 win over Pace on Tuesday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek, freshman Grace Dilena and sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who each had a double-double. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 61 kills with 43 digs and eight aces. Bieniek has a team-high 75 kills with 58 digs and a team-high 20 aces. Bieniek ranks third in the ECC in kills per set (3.95) and leads the ECC in aces per set (1.05). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 194 assists with 30 digs in five matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 40 kills and a team-high 16 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez is second in the ECC in assists per set (10.21). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 40 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 68 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .425 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also leads the ECC with 0.93 blocks per set. Mercy looks to start 5-1 for the third straight year and looks to defeat Felician for the 10th straight time.  

Scouting the Golden Falcons

Felician is coming off a 3-0 loss against Post on Wednesday for their sixth straight loss. The Golden Falcons were picked third in the CACC North Division Preseason Poll after going 13-15 last season, qualifying for the CACC Championship. Felician has been led by Megan Barker who has a team-high 63 kills and by Karla Maldonado who is second on the team with 61 kills. Sophia Watterson has a team-high 119 assists, and 13 aces and Aly Reeser has a team-high 142 digs.

Next Match

Mercy resumes action on Tuesday, September 24th when they host Adelphi at 7 p.m.