DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 5, 2025) – The No. 3 seeded Mercy University Volleyball Team plays at No. 1 seeded Bentley University in an NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Third Round matchup on Saturday, December 6th at 6 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Third Round
Date/Time: Saturday, December 6th 6 p.m.
Records: #3 Mercy (22-4), #1 Bentley (26-4)
Location: Waltham, Mass.
Championship Central
Tickets
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Ticket Prices
$10 Adults
$5 Senior/Youth (Under 18)
Last Meeting vs. Bentley
Bentley earned a 3-2 win over Mercy on October 7, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 3-1 win over Holy Family in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Mavericks were led by sophomore Grace Dilena who had a match-high 23 kills. 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 Regional Championship since 2001. Mercy won their first ECC Regular Season Championship since 2001. With a win Mercy would advance to the National Quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. 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 392 kills on the year with 163 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 15 nationally in kills per set (4.17). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 872 assists with a team-high 240 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is fifth on the team with 161 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 359 kills and is third with 207 digs and Illes-Hair has a team-high 95 blocks. Colon ranks second on the team with 216 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 Falcons
Bentley is coming off a 3-1 win over Post in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Falcons are looking to win their third straight East Region Championship. Bentley is receiving votes nationally in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll. The Falcons enter Saturday's match on a 22-match winning streak. Bentley has not lost a match this season to an East Region team. Mercy is the only East Region team to take the Falcons to five sets so far this season. Bentley is led by Sophia Poehlein who has a team-high 382 kills with 201 digs and 37 blocks. Tory Vitko has a team-high 938 assists to go with 238 digs and 63 blocks. Erica Borzone has a team-high 327 digs and Elizabeth Blinn is second on the team with 245 kills. Blinn also has a team-high 170 blocks.
Next Game
The winner of Saturday's match advances to the National Quarterfinals held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on December 11th.
