DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) recording her 2,000th career assist and a match-high 12 kills from junior Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy), the Mercy University Women's Volleyball Team cruised to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-9) win over University of Bridgeport on Saturday afternoon at the Judge Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (2-0) start 2-0 for the second straight year and have won 18 home matches in a row dating back to 2024. Mercy defeats the Purple Knights (0-1) for the first time since 2018.
Bridgeport took a 6-5 lead in the first set before Mercy rallied with a 12-2 run to take a 17-8 lead after a junior Aleksandra Lucic (Belgrade, Serbia/Florida SouthWestern State College/AIC) kill. The Purple Knights later cut the deficit to 19-14 before the Mavericks scored four points in a row, finished off by a Lucic kill, to take a 23-14 lead. A sophomore Kamila Colon (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Colegio Catolico Notre Dame) kill gave Mercy the 25-16 set-one win.
The Purple Knights built a 5-3 lead in set two before Mercy went on a 9-1 run to take a 12-6 lead after a Lucic ace. Bridgeport later made it 15-10 before the Mavericks closed the set on a 10-1 run to record the 25-11 set-two win.
Mercy scored the first five points of the third set after a senior Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) kill and built an 8-1 advantage. A junior Stasa Stamenkovic (Bor, Serbia/Barton CC) kill later gave the Mavericks a 15-4 lead and a Dilena block put Mercy ahead, 22-6. An Illes-Hair kill gave Mercy the 25-9 set-three win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Rivera Rodriguez who recorded her 2,000th career assist with a match-high 30 assists to go with five digs and four aces. Dilena produced a match-high 12 kills with five digs and three aces and Illes-Hair, Lucic and Stamenkovic each had eight kills. Colon added a match-high 10 digs and junior Devin Brunk (Clarkston, Mich./Frostburg State University) contributed two kills, three aces and three digs in her Mercy debut.
Bridgeport was led by Hailey Jessen who had a team-high five kills.
Mercy hit .453 with 41 kills, 33 digs, 16 aces and three blocks and Bridgeport hit .067 with 14 kills, 22 digs, one ace and three blocks.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, September 1st when they play at Pace at 7 p.m.
