DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by a match-high 16 kills from junior Grace Dilena (New York, N.Y./Liberty University Online Academy) and a double-double from senior Adriana Rivera Rodriguez (Humacao, Puerto Rico/American International College), the Mercy University Women's Volleyball Team earned a 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-17) win over Chestnut Hill College on Saturday afternoon at the Judge Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (5-0) start 5-0 for the first time since 2023 and have won 19 home matches in a row dating back to 2024. Mercy defeats the Griffins (2-4) for the second straight year.
Mercy took an 8-0 lead in set one after a junior Aleksandra Lucic (Belgrade, Serbia/Florida SouthWestern State College/AIC) kill. Chestnut Hill later cut the deficit to five, 12-7, before the Mavericks went on a 7-2 run to take a 19-9 lead after a Rivera Rodriguez ace. The Griffins later made it 21-12 before Mercy ended the set with four straight points, capped off by a senior Janneliz Rodriguez Fuentes (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico/Academia Cristo Rey) and Lucic block, to take the opening set, 25-12.
The Mavericks scored the first two points of the second set and built a 13-1 lead after a Rodriguez Fuentes block. Mercy later held a 16-2 advantage after a Rodriguez Fuentes kill and led 20-6 after kills by Rivera Rodriguez and Dilena. Chestnut Hill later made it 21-10 before the Mavericks scored the final four points of the set, finished off by kills from Rodriguez Fuentes and junior Stasa Stamenkovic (Bor, Serbia/Barton CC), to take the second set, 25-10.
Chestnut Hill scored the first point of the third set before Mercy went on a 6-1 run to take a 6-2 lead after a sophomore Kamila Colon (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Colegio Catolico Notre Dame) ace. The Griffins responded with a 9-4 run to take an 11-10 lead. The Mavericks scored the next four points to retake the lead at 14-11 before the visitors scored the next two points to make it 14-13. Mercy followed with a 6-1 run to take a 20-14 lead after a Rivera Rodriguez kill and later led 23-15 after back-to-back Dilena kills. A Lucic kill later made it 24-16 and a Dilena kill gave Mercy the 25-17 set-three win and the sweep.
Mercy was led by Dilena who had a match-high 16 kills with six digs. Rivera Rodriguez added a double-double with a match-high 33 assists and 12 digs. Stamenkovic recorded eight kills and seven digs and Lucic contributed seven kills and nine digs. Rodriguez Fuentes had six kills, and a match-high six blocks and senior Mia Illes-Hair (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) produced four kills. Colon recorded five digs and a match-high four aces.
Chestnut Hill was led by Parys Boykin who had a team-high eight kills.
Mercy hit .388 with 45 kills, 39 digs, eight aces and six blocks. Chestnut Hill hit .000 with 18 kills, 23 digs, one ace and one block.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, September 8th when they host Post at 6 p.m.
