Back like they never left. The Mercy University women’s volleyball team is a wagon, and one can never count out this team or take them lightly.
Seven games in, the team sits at 5-2, comfortably. Their biggest win of the season this far coming from Pleasantville, Ny, on September 17th, the Mavericks went into enemy territory and took care of business in 4 sets. First two sets in favor of the Mavs 25-21, and 25-19. The Setters than took a set 26-24. When the 4th set came about, Mavs took it home 25-18, Led by Gabriela Bieniek who racked up 15 kills.
Some familiar faces, some new, all starting to mesh together, to make that run to the big dance happen again.
After losing Larissa Schneid who was a 3x First team ECC, some would think they could take a step back, but it seems coach Ana Todorovic wants to keep the foot on the gas.
Starting with the elephant in the room, Gabriela Bieniek, a junior transfer from Indian Hills Community College, has stepped on campus and has yet to look back. She is leading the Mavericks with 100 kills through seven games, including nine at Tuesday’s game vs Adelphi. Using her 6’1 frame, she used her height and mobility to her advantage.
Freshman Grace Dilena has made her presence known so far, racking up 78 kills through her first handful of collegiate games in an extremely impressive manner. Aitza Cruz, the anchor of the team is back like she never left, as well as graduate student Julia Pomerleau, who seem to be leading by example thus far. Adriana Rivera Rodriguez, a sophomore from Humacao, Puerto Rico, seems to be the floor general here when it comes to assists, totaling 250 so far, averaging almost near 10 and a half per set, unreal.
The Mavericks kicked off their 2024 campaign against Post, where they fell in 5 sets in a very close matchup on Sept. 5. That didn’t seem to sit well with them, rattling off five straight wins, including three sweeps, the Mavs were hot and rolling. This past Tuesday, the Mavericks hosted a very tough and well-rounded Adelphi team, which they fell to in three matches. Next matchup will be this Saturday, Sept. 28, in Amherst, New York against a very good Daemen team.
