DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by a double-double from senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) and a match-high 11 kills from junior Aleksandra Lucic (Belgrade, Serbia/Florida SouthWestern State College/AIC), the Mercy University Women's Volleyball Team opened their 2026 season with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-13) win over Felician University on Thursday night at the Judge Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (1-0) win their season opener for the second straight year and defeat the Golden Falcons (0-1) for the 12th straight time. Mercy has won 17 straight home matches dating back to the 2024 season.
The score was tied at 1-1 in the first set before Mercy went on an 8-1 run to take a 9-2 lead. Back-to-back aces from senior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) and a kill from junior Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) later gave the Mavericks a 16-6 lead. A Rodriguez Fuentes kill later in the set made it 23-15 before two aces in a row from junior Stasa Stamenkovic (Bor, Serbia/Barton CC) gave Mercy the 25-15 set-one win.
Felician took a 4-2 lead in set two before the Mavericks scored eight straight points, finished off by two aces from Lucic, to put Mercy up, 10-4. The Golden Falcons later made it 12-9 before the Mavericks scored four points in a row, capped off by a Lucic kill, to make it 16-9. A Rivera Rodriguez kill made it 23-12 before Felician scored three straight points to make it 23-15. Kills from Lucic and Dilena gave Mercy the 25-15 set-two win.
Felician scored the opening point of the third set before the Mavericks scored six of the next seven points to take a 6-2 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill. Another Rodriguez Fuentes kill later gave Mercy an 11-3 lead and a sophomore Kamila Colon (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Colegio Catolico Notre Dame) ace put Mercy up 22-10. A Rodriguez Fuentes kill gave the Mavericks the 25-13 set-three win and the sweep in their season opener.
Mercy was led by Rivera Rodriguez who had a match-high 35 assists and 11 digs with two aces and three kills. Lucic added a match-high 11 kills with five aces and six digs in her Mercy debut. Rodriguez Fuentes contributed nine kills on .583 hitting and Dilena produced eight kills, four aces and six digs. Stamenkovic chipped in seven kills and a match-high-tying 11 digs in her Mercy debut and senior Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) had six kills. Colon added eight digs.
Felician was led by Ashanna Caviness and Peyton Kellam who both had a team-high four kills.
Mercy hit .420 with 44 kills, 44 digs, 16 aces and one block. Felician hit .151 with 17 kills, 19 digs, four aces and three blocks.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, August 29th when they host Bridgeport at 3 p.m.
