DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 5, 2024) – Despite three Mavericks recording double-digit kills, the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 (16-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 16-18) decision to Post University in their 2024 season opener on Thursday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (0-1) open their season with a loss for the first time since 2021, while the Eagles (1-0) earn a win in their season opener.
Mercy was led by freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) who had a match-high 16 kills in her collegiate debut with seven digs. Junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) added 15 kills and a team-high 19 digs in her Mercy debut and graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had 10 kills and five blocks. Senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) had seven kills and senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) had 18 digs. Sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) had a match-high 32 assists in her Mercy debut and junior Samantha Cooney (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) added seven digs.
Post was led by Kristina Peric who had a team-high 15 kills.
The opening set was tied at 1-1 before the Eagles went on an 11-3 run to take a 12-4 lead. Mercy later cut the deficit to five, 16-11, but Post rallied with five of the next six points to take a 21-12 lead. A Pomerleau kill later made it 23-16, but back-to-back kills gave the Eagles the opening set, 25-16.
After Post took a 1-0 lead in set two, Mercy went on a 6-1 run to take a 6-2 lead after a Bieniek kill. The Eagles battled back and took the lead at 16-14 late in the set. The Mavericks followed with five straight points, capped off by three Bieniek aces, to take a 19-16 lead. Post netted the next two points to make it 19-18, but Mercy quickly responded with four points in a row to take a 23-18 lead after a Dilena kill. After Post scored a point to make it 23-19, an Eagle attack error and Vizcaino kill gave Mercy the set two win, 25-19.
Post built a 13-7 lead in set three before Mercy cut the deficit to four, 18-14, after an Eagles attack error. Post ended the set on a 7-4 run to take the set, 25-18, and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Eagles jumped out to a 6-3 lead in set four before Mercy tied the set at 6-6. Post regained the lead at 7-6 before the Mavericks rattled off nine straight points to take a 15-7 lead. The Eagles later got within five, 24-19, but a sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) kill gave Mercy the set, 25-19 and tied the match at 2-2.
Post recorded the first two points of the fifth set and held a 4-2 lead before Mercy scored the next four points to take a 6-4 lead after three straight Bieniek kills. Mercy later held a 7-5 lead before Post rallied with three consecutive points to take an 8-7 lead. Post held a 12-11 lead before a Bieniek kill and Vizcaino ace gave the Mavericks a 13-12 lead. Back-to-back Eagle points gave Post a 14-13 lead, serving for match point. A Post service error made it 14-14 before a kill by Post made it 15-14. The Eagles served again for match point, but Rodriguez Fuentes came up with a kill and sophomore Alanis Calderon (Canovanas, Puerto Rico/CIEM Private School) recorded an ace to give Mercy a 16-15 lead, serving for match point. Three straight points from Post gave the visitors an 18-16 win in set five and the match in five sets.
Mercy hit .153 with 56 kills, 71 digs, nine blocks and 11 aces. Post hit .182 with 47 kills, 66 digs, nine blocks and eight aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, September 7th when they host Goldey-Beacom at 12 p.m.
