COLONIA, N.J. – Mercy University Women's Volleyball junior Stasa Stamenkovic (Bor, Serbia/Barton CC) has been named the East Coast Conference (ECC) Women's Volleyball Player of the Week for Week Five, junior Aleksandra Lucic (Belgrade, Serbia/Florida SouthWestern State College/AIC) has been tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, and senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College) has earned Setter of the Week. Junior Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) has received Honor Roll recognition.
Stamenkovic had 22 kills and 3.67 kills per set on .422 hitting with 19 digs, one block, one ace and four assists as Mercy went 2-0 on the week against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season. The junior opened the week with 14 kills on .500 hitting to go with 10 digs, and one assist in the sweep of Adelphi on Tuesday. The outside hitter then had eight kills, nine digs, one block, one ace and three assists in the Mavericks' sweep at RV AIC on Thursday, handing the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season.
Lucic had a team-high 10 blocks (5 solo, 5 assist) and 1.67 blocks per set to go with 15 kills, nine digs, three assists and one ace as Mercy went 2-0 on the week against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season. The junior opened the week with five kills, seven blocks (2 solo, 5 assists), two digs, one ace and two assists in the sweep of Adelphi on Tuesday. Lucic ended the week with a team-high 10 kills to go with three blocks, seven digs, and one assist in the sweep at previously undefeated RV AIC on Thursday.
Rivera Rodriguez had a team-high 67 assists and 11.17 assists per set with 18 digs, two blocks and four kills as Mercy went 2-0 on the week with wins against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season. The senior opened the week with a match-high 36 assists to go with nine digs and one block in the sweep of Adelphi on Tuesday. The setter then had a match-high 31 assists to go with nine digs, one block, and four kills in the sweep at previously undefeated RV AIC on Thursday.
Dilena had a team-high 26 kills and 4.33 kills per set on .320 hitting with 11 digs, four blocks, and two aces as Mercy went 2-0 on the week against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season. The junior opened the week with a match-high 17 kills on .444 hitting with seven digs, two blocks, and two aces in the sweep of Adelphi on Tuesday. The outside hitter ended the week with nine kills, four digs and two blocks in the sweep at previously undefeated RV AIC on Thursday.
The award is the fourth for Stamenkovic this season and the second for Lucic. Rivera Rodriguez has now been named Setter of the Week five times, and the award is the fifth for Dilena this year. Mercy has now earned 19 awards on the year.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday when they host Queens at 7 p.m.
