DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 24, 2024) – Despite a team-high nine kills from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (18-25, 18-25, 13-25) decision to 2023 NCAA Tournament participant Adelphi University on Tuesday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.

The Mavericks (5-2) see their five-match winning streak come to an end and fall to the Panthers (7-6) for the eighth straight time.

Mercy was led by Bieniek who had a team-high nine kills to go along with four digs. Freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) had eight kills and sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) had a team-high 14 assists. Freshman Lexi Stooksbury (Marengo, Ohio/Big Walnut) had three kills and junior Samantha Cooney (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) had six digs. Senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) had a team-high eight digs and senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had three kills. Sophomore Alanis Calderon (Canovanas, Puerto Rico/CIEM Private School) added seven assists.

Adelphi was led by Macarty McQueen who had a match-high 11 kills.

The opening set was tied at 4-4 after a Bieniek kill before Adelphi went on a 12-3 run to take a 16-7 lead. A Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) and Vizcaino block later cut the deficit to five, 21-16, but the Panthers ended the set on a 4-2 spurt to take the opening set, 25-18.

Adelphi recorded the first three points of the second set and later held a 9-3 lead. Mercy rallied with a 6-1 run to get within one, 10-9. The Panthers responded with a 6-1 run to increase the lead back to six, 16-10. A Bieniek and Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) block later in the set trimmed the Adelphi lead to four, 19-15. However, the visitors closed the set on a 6-3 run to take the second set, 25-18.

The visitors held a 3-1 lead in set three before Mercy scored two of the next three points to make it 4-3 after a Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) kill. The Panthers ensued with a 9-3 run to take a 13-6 lead before back-to-back Mercy points made it 13-8. Adelphi finished the set on a 12-5 run to take the set, 25-13 and win the match in three sets.

Mercy hit .162 with 29 kills, 25 digs, seven blocks and two aces. Adelphi hit .380 with 41 kills, 26 digs, five blocks and nine aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, September 28th when they play at Daemen at 1 p.m.