BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sept. 29, 2024) – Despite a team-high 15 kills from graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine), the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (23-25, 16-25, 30-28, 15-25) decision to ECC foe D'Youville University on Sunday afternoon.

The Mavericks (5-4, 0-2 ECC) have dropped three matches in a row, while the Saints (5-9, 2-0 ECC) have won two matches in a row.

Mercy was led by Pomerleau who had a season-high 15 kills on .444 hitting. Freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) had 11 kills, and 11 digs and junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) had nine kills and six digs. Freshman Lexi Stooksbury (Marengo, Ohio/Big Walnut) had eight kills and sophomore Alanis Calderon (Canovanas, Puerto Rico/CIEM Private School) had a team-high 32 assists with two kills. Senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) had a team-high 12 digs and sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had four kills.

D'Youville was led by Alex Darby who had a match-high 17 kills.

Mercy jumped out to a 5-1 lead in set one after a Stooksbury kill and later held an 8-3 lead after another Stooksbury kill. The Mavericks later held a 13-10 lead after a Pomerleau kill before D'Youville scored four straight points to take a 14-13 lead. Mercy regained the lead after four consecutive points, taking a 17-14 lead after a Bieniek kill. The Saints stormed back on a 10-3 run to take a 24-20 lead. Two kills from Dilena and a kill from Pomerleau made it 24-23 before a Mercy service error gave D'Youville the 25-23 set one win.

The Saints took a 10-5 lead in set two before Mercy went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 11-11 after a Stooksbury kill. D'Youville followed with an 11-3 run to take a 22-14 lead. A Dilena kill later made it 23-16 before back-to-back Saint points gave the hosts a 25-16 set two win.

The third set was tied at 11-11 before Mercy scored back-to-back points to take a 13-11 lead. The Saints scored three unanswered points to take a 14-13 lead. The Mavericks battled back and took an 18-17 lead before D'Youville scored four of the next five points to take a 21-19 lead. Mercy rallied with a 4-1 spurt to take a 23-22 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill before the Saints tallied two points in a row to take a 24-23 lead, serving for match point. The Mavericks ensued with a 3-1 run to take a 26-25 lead after a Dilena kill. D'Youville went on a 3-1 run to retake the lead at 28-27 with another opportunity to win the match. Mercy closed the set with three straight points, capped off by a Pomerleau and Dilena block, to take the set, 30-28.

Mercy built a 6-1 lead in set four after a Dilena ace and later held an 8-3 lead. The Mavericks held an 11-10 lead after a Bieniek kill before the hosts went on an 11-2 run to take a 21-13 lead. A Pomerleau kill later made it 22-15, but D'Youville scored the final three points of the set to take the set 25-15 and the match in four sets.

Mercy hit .173 with 53 kills, 42 digs, seven blocks and four aces. D'Youville hit .252 with 52 kills, 62 digs, nine blocks and 11 aces.

Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, October 2nd when they play at Southern Connecticut State at 7 p.m.