DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 30, 2025) – The Mercy University Volleyball Team plays at ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday, October 1st at 6 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 1st 6 p.m.
Records: Mercy (5-2, 1-0 ECC), St. Thomas Aquinas (3-8, 0-1 ECC)
Location: Sparkill, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Mercy earned a 3-2 win at STAC on October 26, 2024.
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 at Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday. Mercy was led by sophomore Grace Dilena who had a match-high 22 kills. Dilena and junior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. Senior Gabriela Bieniek and Rivera Rodriguez were named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. 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 110 kills on the year with 45 digs. Bieniek leads the ECC and is ranked No. 8 nationally in kills per set (4.40). Rivera Rodriguez has a team-high 235 assists with 66 digs and senior Samantha Cooney is third on the team with 64 digs. Dilena is second on the team with 96 kills and leads the team with 67 digs and junior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes has a team-high 26 blocks. Mercy is 4-0 in their last four meetings against STAC. The Mavericks look to start 2-0 in ECC play for the first time since 2023.
Scouting the Spartans
STAC is coming off a 3-0 loss at Roberts Wesleyan 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 83 kills and 3.61 kills per set with 71 digs. Laura Rojas Gomez is second on the team with 81 kills and Boglarka Kiss has a team-high 159 digs. Anna Gazzerro has a team-high 262 assists and Kamila Zoe Rosa has a team-high 15 blocks.
Next Game
Mercy resumes action on Friday, October 3rd when they host Franklin Pierce at 6 p.m.
