DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 1, 2025) – The No. 3 seeded Mercy University Volleyball Team faces No. 6 seeded Molloy University in an NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship First Round matchup on Thursday, December 4th at 11 a.m. at Bentley University.

Who, When and Where

First Round

Date/Time: Thursday, December 4th 11 a.m.

Records: #3 Mercy (20-4), #6 Molloy (18-9)

Location: Waltham, Mass. (Bentley University)

Championship Central

Tickets

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Ticket Prices

$10 Adults
$5 Senior/Youth (Under 18)

Last Meeting vs. Molloy

Mercy earned a 3-0 win over Molloy in the ECC Championship Final on November 22, 2025.

Scouting the Mavericks

The Mavericks earned a 3-0 win over Molloy in the ECC Championship Final on November 22nd to secure their first ECC Championship since 2001. Mercy is making their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The Mavericks advanced to the National Quarterfinals in 2001. Mercy looks to win their first NCAA Tournament match since 2023. Mercy won their first ECC Regular Season Championship since 2001. The Mavericks won all three meetings against Molloy this season. With a win on Thursday, the Mercy would face the winner of #2 Adelphi/#7 Holy Family on Friday, December 5th at 4 p.m. at Bentley. Mercy went 16-11 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. With a win, Mercy would have their most wins in a season since 2001. The Mavericks qualified for the ECC Championship for the sixth straight season and finished as Runner-Up for the first time since 2005 last year. 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.

Senior Gabriela Bieniek was named ECC Player of the Week on November 17th, junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week, freshman Kamila Colon was named Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore Grace Dilena and junior Mia Illes-Hair were named to the Honor Roll. Bieniek was named ECC Co-Player of the Week on November 10th, Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week and freshman Kamila Colon was tabbed Rookie of the Week. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on November 3rd and Bieniek and junior Mia Illes-Hair were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Rivera Rodriguez and Bieniek were named to the ECC Honor Roll on October 27th. 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 354 kills on the year with 159 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 15 nationally in kills per set (4.16). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 797 assists with a team-high 220 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is fifth on the team with 151 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 322 kills and is third with 187 digs and Illes-Hair has a team-high 85 blocks. Colon ranks second on the team with 191 digs. Bieniek was named ECC Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC, Rivera Rodriguez was named Setter of the Year and First Team All-ECC, Dilena was tabbed First Team All-ECC and Illes-Hair was named Second Team All-ECC.

Scouting the Lions

Molloy is coming off a 3-0 loss to Mercy in the ECC Championship Final on November 22nd. The Lions finished as ECC runner-up for the first time since 2023. Molloy is making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022. The Lions are led by ECC Libero of the Year Aria Miller who has an ECC-best 390 digs and 4.11 digs per set. First Team All-ECC selection Julia Zalta has a team-high 547 assists with 196 kills and 223 digs. Second Team All-ECC honoree Erin Stanley has a team-high 255 kills and Second Team All-ECC honoree Ilaria Micol Chiericati has a team-high 73 blocks.

Next Game

The winner of Thursday's match will face the winner of #2 Adelphi/#7 Holy Family on Friday, December 5th at 4 p.m.