AMHERST, N.Y.– The Mercy University Women's Volleyball Team plays at ECC foe Daemen University on Sunday, October 18th at 11 a.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Sunday, October 18th 11 a.m.

Records: Mercy (16-1, 5-0 ECC), Daemen (10-8, 2-2 ECC)

Location: Amherst, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Daemen

Mercy earned a 3-2 win over Daemen on October 4, 2026.  

Scouting the Mavericks

Mercy is coming off a 3-0 win at Queens on Thursday. The Mavericks were led by junior Stasa Stamenkovic who had a double-double. Mercy has won four straight meetings against Daemen. The Mavericks are off to their best start since 2001. Mercy looks to start 6-0 in ECC play for the second straight year. With a win, the Mavericks would have a nine-match winning streak for the first time since 2001. Junior Aleksandra Lucic was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week and Stamenkovic and Dilena were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player of the Week on October 5th, Lucic was named Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore Ella Buonauro and senior Mia Illes-Hair were named to the Honor Roll. Junior Stasa Stamenkovic was named ECC Player of the Week on September 28th, junior Aleksandra Lucic was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, senior Adriana Rodriguez was named Setter of the Week, and junior Grace Dilena was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player of the Week on September 21st, Stamenkovic was named Defensive Player of the Week, and senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. Rivera Rodriguez was named ECC Setter of the Week on September 14th, Illes-Hair was named Defensive Player of the Week and junior Grace Dilena and Stamenkovic were tabbed to the Honor Roll. Dilena was named ECC Player of the Week on September 7th, sophomore Kamila Colon was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week and Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week. Dilena was named ECC Player of the Week on August 31st, Colon was named Defensive Player of the Week, senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez was tabbed Setter of the Week and juniors Aleksandra Lucic and Stamenkovic were named to the Honor Roll.

The Mavericks have been led by Rivera Rodriguez who has a team-high 497 assists to go with 122 digs, 35 kills and 23 aces. Rivera Rodriguez recorded her 2,000th career assist against Bridgeport on August 29th and her 2,000th career assist as a Maverick against Pace on September 1st. Junior Aleksandra Lucic has 128 kills with 38 aces, and 139 digs and senior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes has 87 kills and 46 blocks. Dilena has a team-high 217 kills with 24 aces and 121 digs and Stamenkovic has 173 kills and a team-high 147 digs. Senior Mia Illes-Hair has 112 kills on the year with a team-high 47 blocks and sophomore Kamila Colon has posted 131 digs on the year. Head Coach Ana Todorovic recorded her 100th career win as a women's volleyball head coach following the win at Monroe on September 3rd.

Mercy went 22-5 last season, winning their first ECC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Mavericks qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and for the ECC Championship for the sixth consecutive year. Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks were picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll and junior Grace Dilena was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year. Leading the returners is Dilena who was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, AVCA First Team All-Region, D2CCA Second Team All-Region, First Team All-ECC and the ECC Championship's Most Outstanding Player after starting all 27 matches with 373 kills and 212 digs last season. Also returning is senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez who was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, AVCA First Team All-Region, ECC Setter of the Year and First Team All-ECC last season after starting all 27 matches with a team-high 896 assists and 244 digs. Senior Mia Illes-Hair also returns after being named Second Team All-ECC in 2025. Illes-Hair started all 27 matches, leading the team with 96 blocks while adding 187 kills. Senior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes returns after posting 109 kills and 87 blocks last season. Sophomore Kamila Colon was second on the team with 227 digs last season and sophomore Isabella Brown returns after posting 120 digs. Sophomore Kori Sessions posted 52 kills last season and sophomores Sophia Chapman and Ella Buonauro also return.

Todorovic also adds four transfers and one freshman to the team ahead of the 2026 season. Leading the newcomers is junior Aleksandra Lucic who transfers from Florida SouthWestern State College and American International College. Lucic was named NE10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman at AIC and was named First Team All-Conference and Third Team All-American at Florida SouthWestern last season. Junior Stasa Stamenkovic joins Mercy from Barton Community College where she was named First Team All-American. Junior Devin Brunk comes from Frostburg State University where she played two years, recording over 300 kills and 270 digs. Freshman Maya Norlin comes from Oswego High School in Illinois where she was named All-Conference as a senior.

Scouting the Wildcats

Daemen is coming off a 3-0 loss at D'Youville on Sunday. The Wildcats will host STAC on Saturday before hosting Mercy on Sunday. Daemen went 12-14 last season, qualifying for the ECC Championship. The Wildcats were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll. Daemen has been led by Audrey Johnson who has a team-high 167 kills. Avery Craig has a team-high 190 digs and is second with 156 kills. Maddie Schamaun has a team-high 359 assists and Jolie Faw has a team-high 64 blocks. Mollie Berry is second on the team with 148 digs.

Next Game

Mercy hosts Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday, October 24th.