DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2025) – The Mercy University Volleyball Team plays at ECC foe D'Youville University on Saturday, November 8th at 12 p.m. before playing at Daemen University in an ECC matchup on Sunday, November 9th at 11 a.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 8th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (15-3, 8-0 ECC), D'Youville (7-15, 2-7 ECC)
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Date/Time: Sunday, November 9th 11 a.m.
Records: Mercy (15-3, 8-0 ECC), Daemen (10-12, 6-3 ECC)
Location: Amherst, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. D'Youville
Mercy earned a 3-0 win over D'Youville on October 11, 2025.
Last Meeting vs. Daemen
Mercy earned a 3-0 win over Daemen on October 12, 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 3-1 win over AIC on Tuesday. Mercy was led by senior Gabriela Bieniek who had a double-double and by junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 36 assists. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on Monday and Bieniek and junior Mia Illes-Hair were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Rivera Rodriguez and Bieniek were named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Player of the Week on October 20th, freshman Kamila Colon was named Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore Grace Dilena was named to the Honor Roll. Bieniek was named ECC Player of the Week on October 13th, 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, sophomore Grace 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 267 kills on the year with 125 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 13 nationally in kills per set (4.31). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 593 assists with a team-high 162 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is third on the team with 141 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 232 kills and 148 digs and Illes-Hair has a team-high 63 blocks. The Mavericks are off to their best start since 2001 when they started 18-0. Mercy has won eight matches in a row for the first time since 2001. The Mavericks are 7-3 all-time against D'Youville and 5-19 all-time against Daemen. Mercy looks to sweep the season series with Daemen for the first time and looks to win at Daemen for the first time. Mercy is currently one of 10 teams under consideration for an NCAA Tournament berth in the first NCAA Regional Rankings released on Wednesday.
Scouting the Saints
D'Youville is coming off a 3-1 loss at Molloy on Sunday. The Saints were picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 13-16 last season, winning the ECC Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. D'Youville has been led by Madeline O'Brien who has a team-high 225 kills with 144 digs. Alina Bertens-Deckart has a team-high 616 assists and Cameron Ulinski has a team-high 164 digs. Ulinski is also second on the team in kills with 207 and Giselle Ramirez has a team-high 46 blocks.
Scouting the Wildcats
Daemen is coming off a 3-1 win at Queens on Sunday. The Wildcats will host STAC on Saturday before hosting Mercy on Sunday. Daemen was picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 17-9 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have been led by ECC Preseason Player of the Year Nahirka Malpica who is second on the team with 242 kills and leads the team with 237 digs. Keira Mullen has a team-high 250 kills and Avery Dole has a team-high 372 assists. Solé Rancy has a team-high 84 blocks and Jarielys Giraud is second on the team with 185 digs.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Queens on Wednesday, November 12th at 7 p.m.
