DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2024) – Powered by a match-high 14 kills from junior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC) and freshman Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and a match-high 42 assists from sophomore Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-19) win over Goldey-Beacom College on Saturday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (1-1) pick up their first win of the season and have won four straight matches against the Lightning (1-2).
Mercy was led by Bieniek who had 14 kills on .450 hitting with a team-high eight digs and five aces. Dilena added 14 kills and seven digs and Rivera Rodriguez had 42 assists. Senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) both had six kills and sophomore Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) had five kills. Senior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/Polk State College) had seven digs and junior Samantha Cooney (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) had five digs.
Goldey-Beacom was led by Giuliana Jaku who had a team-high nine kills.
The Lightning jumped out to a 15-12 lead in set one before Mercy rattled off five straight points to take a 17-15 lead after a Goldey-Beacom attack error. The Lightning scored the next three points to retake the lead at 18-17. Mercy tallied three consecutive points to take a 20-18 lead before the visitors tied the set at 20-20. The Mavericks recorded the next three points, capped off by a Pomerleau and Vizcaino block, to take a 23-20 lead. Goldey-Beacom later cut the Mercy lead to two, 24-22, but a Pomerleau kill gave the Mavericks the set, 25-22.
Goldey-Beacom took a 5-4 lead in set two before Mercy scored four straight points to take an 8-5 lead after a Dilena kill. A Mavericks service error made it 8-6, but Mercy recorded five of the next six points to take a 13-7 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. The Lightning stormed back on a 9-3 run to tie the set at 16-16. However, Mercy closed the set on a 9-2 run to take the second set, 25-18.
The third set was tied at 3-3 before the Mavericks went on a 6-1 spurt to take a 9-4 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes block. Goldey-Beacom later got within three, 13-10, but Mercy rallied with a 10-3 run to build a 23-13 lead after a Rivera Rodriguez ace. Goldey-Beacom scored six of the next seven points to make it 24-19, but a Bieniek kill gave the Mavericks the set, 25-19, and the match in three sets.
Mercy hit .267 with 46 kills, 36 digs, three blocks and eight aces. Goldey-Beacom hit .115 with 26 kills, 30 digs, four blocks and four aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, September 10th when they host Assumption at 6 p.m.
