DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 20, 2025) – The Mercy University Volleyball Team hosts ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22nd 7 p.m.
Records: Mercy (11-3, 6-0 ECC), St. Thomas Aquinas (4-14, 1-5 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Mercy earned a 3-0 win at STAC on October 1, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy went 16-11 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The Mavericks qualified for the ECC Championship for the fifth straight season and finished as Runner-Up for the first time since 2005. Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll. Leading the returners for the Mavericks is junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who was named ECC Setter of the Year and AVCA First Team All-Region in 2024 after recording 1,031 assists, 183 digs and 44 blocks last season. Senior Gabriela Bieniek also returns after being named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention last year. Bieniek ended the 2024 season with 333 kills, 55 aces and 222 digs. Sophomore Grace Dilena returns after being named ECC Rookie of the Year last season. Dilena finished with 334 kills and 211 digs in 2024. Senior Samantha Cooney is back after posting 122 digs and 10 aces and senior Marichelle Rodriguez returns after recording 17 aces last season. Juniors Mia Illes-Hair and Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes are back after combining for 164 kills and 99 blocks last season. Todorovic will also rely upon freshmen Isabella Brown, Ella Buonauro, Kori Sessions, Sophia Chapman, Kamila Colon Estades and Sophia Stack.
The Mavericks are coming off a 3-0 win at Molloy on Saturday. Mercy was led by junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a double-double. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Player of the Week on Monday, freshman Kamila Colon was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore Grace Dilena was named to the Honor Roll. Senior Gabriela Bieniek was named ECC Player of the Week last week, junior Mia Illes-Hair was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Rivera Rodriguez was named to the Honor Roll. Illes-Hair was named ECC Player of the Week on October 6th, Dilena was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week. Dilena and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 29th. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 22nd. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on September 15th and Bieniek and Dilena were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were both named to the ECC Honor Roll on September 8th. The Mavericks have been led by Bieniek who has a team-high 204 kills on the year with 94 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 14 nationally in kills per set (4.25). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 456 assists with 120 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is third on the team with 110 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 184 kills and leads the team with 123 digs and Illes-Hair has a team-high 44 blocks. Mercy is 5-0 in their last five meetings against the Spartans. The Mavericks are off to their best start since 2001 when they started 14-0 and their best ECC start since 2001.
Scouting the Spartans
STAC is coming off a 3-2 loss to Queens on Sunday. The Spartans were picked seventh in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 7-18 last season. STAC has been led by Adriana Zarceno who has a team-high 203 kills with 127 digs and 12 aces. Laura Rojas Gomez is second on the team with 135 kills and has 72 digs. Boglarka Kiss has a team-high 281 digs and 45 aces and Anna Gazzerro has a team-high 496 assists.
Next Game
Mercy plays at Chestnut Hill on Monday, October 27th at 7 p.m.
