DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 23, 2024) – The Mercy University volleyball team hosts Adelphi University on Tuesday, September 24th at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 24th 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (5-1), Adelphi (6-6)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Adelphi
Adelphi earned a 3-0 win over Mercy on September 20, 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 Felician on Friday. Mercy was led by junior Gabriela Bieniek who had a match-high 16 kills, by sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 42 assists and by senior Aitza Cruz who had a match-high 20 digs. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. The Mavericks have been led by Dilena who has 70 kills with 48 digs and 10 aces. Bieniek has a team-high 91 kills with 61 digs and a team-high 20 aces. Bieniek ranks second in the ECC in kills per set (4.14) and leads the ECC in aces per set (0.91). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 236 assists with 36 digs in six matches and graduate student Julia Pomerleau has 49 kills and a team-high 16 blocks this season. Rivera Rodriguez leads the ECC in assists per set (10.21). Anyelainy Vizcaino has 47 kills and senior Aitza Cruz has a team-high 88 digs. Pomerleau leads the ECC with a .465 hitting percentage. Sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes also leads the ECC with 0.93 blocks per set. Mercy looks to start 6-1 for the third straight year. With a win the Mavericks would have their longest winning streak since 2002 when they won seven matches in a row. Mercy looks to defeat Adelphi for the first time since 2005. The Panthers have won seven straight meetings.
Scouting the Panthers
Adelphi is coming off a 3-0 win over Wilmington on Saturday. The Panthers were picked first in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 26-7 last season, hosting the East Regional in the NCAA Tournament. Adelphi has been led by Macarty McQueen who has a team-high 120 kills to go with 15 blocks. Emilia Cascapera is second on the team with 91 kills and Noelle Alberda is third with 90 kills. Kambel Fiser has a team-high 434 assists and Jaydin Nowak has a team-high 214 digs. Kalena Ricketts has recorded a team-high 31 blocks.
Next Match
Mercy resumes action on Saturday, September 28th when they play at Daemen at 1 p.m.
