ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Powered by a match-high 15 kills from junior Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and a match-high 13 digs from sophomore Isabella Brown (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy), the RV Mercy University Women's Volleyball Team earned a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-16) win over ECC foe Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at the Voller Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (23-1, 11-0 ECC) have won 15 matches in a row and now have their most wins since 2001. Mercy sweeps the season series with the Redhawks (3-22, 1-10 ECC) for the second straight year. The Mavericks now have the sixth longest winning streak in Division II and the second longest road winning streak at 11 matches.
Mercy jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set one, aided by two kills from junior Stasa Stamenkovic (Bor, Serbia/Barton CC) and an ace from Dilena. Roberts Wesleyan later cut the Mavericks lead to two, 7-5, before Mercy stormed back on a 16-5 run to take a 23-10 lead after a Stamenkovic kill. A Dilena kill later gave the Mavericks the 25-12 set-one win.
The Mavericks built a 4-0 lead in set two before the Redhawks battled back and tied the set at 10-10. The set was later tied at 12-12 before Mercy went on an 8-2 run to take a 20-14 lead after a Stamenkovic kill. Kills from senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and Dilena made it 24-17 and a Roberts Wesleyan service error later gave Mercy the 25-18 set-two win.
The Redhawks took a 2-1 lead in set three before Mercy scored the next six points to take a 7-2 lead. Roberts Wesleyan later cut the Mavericks lead to four, 15-11, before Mercy ensued with an 8-2 run to take a 23-13 lead after kills from junior Aleksandra Lucic (Belgrade, Serbia/Florida SouthWestern State College) and Dilena. A kill from senior Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) later gave the Mavericks a 24-14 advantage and a Lucic kill gave Mercy the 25-16 set-three win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Dilena who had a match-high 15 kills. Brown added a match-high 13 digs and Rivera Rodriguez had a match-high 29 assists with eight digs. Stamenkovic contributed 12 kills and eight digs and Illes-Hair, senior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) and Lucic each had five kills.
Roberts Wesleyan was led by Ryan Hull who had a team-high seven kills.
Mercy hit .446 with 44 kills, 40 digs, five aces and seven blocks. Roberts Wesleyan hit .073 with 27 kills, 23 digs, three aces and two blocks.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at D'Youville in the final match of the regular season at 11 a.m.
