DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — Powered by a match-high 12 kills from senior Gabriela Bieniek (Rzeszow, Poland/Indian Hills CC), the Mercy University Volleyball Team earned a 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-15) win over defending ECC Champion D'Youville University on Saturday afternoon at the Judge Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (8-3, 3-0 ECC) are now 5-0 at home and defeat the Saints (4-11, 1-3 ECC) for the fifth straight time at home.
The first set started with Mercy establishing an early lead over D'Youville, led by junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) who served an ace and assisted junior Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) for a kill, resulting in a quick 3-0 advantage. Mercy maintained momentum with contributions from Illes-Hair, who recorded multiple kills, and junior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey), who participated in several blocks, pushing the score to 10-6. A scoring run by D'Youville narrowed the gap to 11-10, but Mercy responded with a decisive 7-0 streak, including a service ace by Rivera Rodriguez and strong blocking by freshman Kori Sessions (Spring, Texas/Carl Wunsche) and Illes-Hair. Mercy closed the set 25-11, benefiting from D'Youville's attack errors and solid defensive plays.
Bieniek led Mercy with a series of impactful plays in the second set against D'Youville, contributing several kills and service aces. Bieniek's efforts helped Mercy build a lead, with key points including back-to-back aces that extended the score to 8-4. Rivera Rodriguez consistently set up her teammates, including sophomore Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and Rodriguez Fuentes, who both converted crucial kills. Despite a late push by D'Youville, featuring service aces and kills by Isabelle Prentice and Giselle Ramirez, Mercy secured the set 25-19 after a service error by D'Youville's Alina Bertens Deckart.
Mercy secured a decisive third set victory over D'Youville with a 25-14 score. Dilena led the offense with multiple key kills, including the opening point from freshman Kamila Colon's (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Colegio Catolico Notre Dame) assist and another from Rivera Rodriguez to stretch the lead to 10-5. Bieniek contributed significantly, tallying two kills and two service aces, with one ace bringing the score to 18-10. Illes-Hair sealed the set with a kill assisted by Rivera Rodriguez, concluding a strong performance for the home team.
Bieniek led the Mavericks with 12 kills and five aces. Illes-Hair added 10 kills and was involved in four blocks. Dilena matched Illes-Hair with 10 kills while also serving two aces. Rivera Rodriguez facilitated the offense with 27 assists and recorded eight digs. Colon added a match-high nine digs.
Madeline O'Brien led the Saints, delivering six kills with a .235 hitting percentage and adding two service aces. Bertens Deckart was instrumental in setting, recording 14 assists without an error over 45 attempts, and contributing two aces. Ulinski matched O'Brien's six kills but had a .118 hitting percentage, complementing her offensive efforts with a service ace.
Mercy hit .415 with 41 kills, 32 digs, 10 aces and seven blocks. D'Youville hit .068 with 22 kills, 28 digs, six aces and one block.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks are set to face Daemen University (N.Y.) at home in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. The match is scheduled for October 12 with the first serve at noon.
