DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 4, 2025) – The No. 3 seeded Mercy University Volleyball Team faces No. 7 seeded Holy Family University in an NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Second Round matchup on Friday, December 5th at 4 p.m.
Who, When and Where
First Round
Date/Time: Friday, December 5th 4 p.m.
Records: #3 Mercy (21-4), #7 Holy Family (23-9)
Location: Waltham, Mass. (Bentley University)
Championship Central
Tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Ticket Prices
$10 Adults
$5 Senior/Youth (Under 18)
Last Meeting vs. Holy Family
Holy Family earned a 3-0 win over Mercy on September 24, 2011.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 3-2 win over #6 seed Molloy in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The Mavericks were led by senior Gabriela Bieniek who had a match-high 24 kills and by junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez and sophomore Grace Dilena who had double-doubles. 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 advance to the Third Round for the first time since 2001. Mercy won their first ECC Regular Season Championship since 2001. With a win, Mercy would play in the East Region Final on Saturday, December 6th at 6 p.m. 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 378 kills on the year with 163 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 15 nationally in kills per set (4.20). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 835 assists with a team-high 232 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is fifth on the team with 158 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 336 kills and is third with 198 digs and Illes-Hair has a team-high 88 blocks. Colon ranks second on the team with 205 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. Bieniek, Rivera Rodriguez and Dilena were named AVCA First Team All-Region. Bieniek was named D2CCA First Team All-Region and Dilena was tabbed Second Team All-Region.
Scouting the Tigers
Holy Family is coming off a 3-2 come-from-behind win over #2 seed Adelphi on Thursday in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers earned their fourth NCAA Tournament berth in eight seasons. Holy Family won their first NCAA Tournament match since 2021 against Adelphi on Thursday. The Tigers are led by Shelby Kinzer who has a team-high 404 kills and 329 digs. CACC Setter of the Year Mia Wise has a team-high 1,337 assists with 254 digs and Mackenzie Layton is second on the team with 399 kills. Leah Logan has a team-high 83 blocks and Ava Kidd has 288 kills.
Next Game
The winner of Friday's match will play in the East Region Final on Saturday, December 6th at 6 p.m. at Bentley University.
