Four up, four down. The Mercy womens’ volleyball team has won their first four games with ease to kick off their 2023 campaign.
It’s hard to argue there’s a better show in town right now. The Mavericks defeated Southern Connecticut State, 3-1, on Tuesday night, improving to 4-0 for the second straight year under head coach Ana Todorovic. Mercy won the first two sets, 25-19 and 29-18, before dropping their first set of the season in set three, 21-25. The Mavs responded like any good team does, winning set four and the match in dominating fashion, 25-12.
The win over SCSU marks the fourth different opponent Mercy has defeated this season, with victories over Pace, Goldey-Beacom, and Caldwell already on their belt.
While their jersey reads ‘Mercy,’ their play has displayed none whatsoever. This team isn’t just beating their opponents. They’re beating them up. A sign of a lineup with a richness of experience, which Todorovic has all over the court.
The 2022 ECC Setter of the Year was in her element on Tuesday. Yarianne Gonzalez led the Mavs to victory tallying an impressive 42 assists in the game. The senior has maintained her elite status as a playmaker and a server through four contests, averaging 9.15 assists and 0.92 aces per set. Gonzalez leads the ECC in both categories.
As expected, fellow senior Larissa Schneid has been Gonzalez’s favorite target this season. A First Team ECC selectee a season ago, the outside hitter from Brazil leads the team with 43 kills, including a season-high 17 vs SCSU. Schneid has cemented herself as one of the best hitters in the conference and is poised for another monstrous year.
Mercy’s front court is amongst the most effective units in the ECC, and that has largely to do with Julia Pomerleau. The All-Conference middle blocker is the anchor for the Mavericks in the front row. Pomerleau ranks No. 1 in the conference in blocks per set and No. 2 in hitting percentage, dominating the two most important metrics of efficiency for her position.
Todorovic and the Mavs will look to keep their foot on the gas this Friday against Dominican, before heading down to Long Island for the team’s best test so far of the season: A matchup with the Adelphi Panthers. The Panthers were East Region finalists in last year’s NCAA Tournament, leaving Mercy an excellent opportunity to prove what they’re about this year.
With just two games left before league play begins, Mercy has a chance to put themselves in cruise control. If they can come away with two victories before heading to Roberts Wesleyan, the confidence of this team might be too much for opposing teams to handle.
It’s a difficult schedule draw for Mercy, who will now be on the road for their next five straight matches. The mental exhaustion of traveling can take a toll on professional athletes, nonetheless collegiate athletes, so it will be important for Todorovic to maintain the focus of her team through this tough stretch.
How much horsepower does this engine have? We are about to find out shortly.
