DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2023) – Powered by a match-high nine kills and nine digs from senior Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC), the Mercy University volleyball team opened their 2023 season with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-14) win over Pace University on Thursday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (1-0) open their season with a win for the second straight year, while the Setters (0-1) fall to Mercy for the third straight time.
Schneid had a match-high nine kills and nine digs and senior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, P.R./Monroe College) had a match-high 31 assists with seven digs and two kills. Senior Ayzaline Garay (Bayamon, P.R./Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice) had eight kills and eight digs and graduate student Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had seven kills and two blocks. Senior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, D.R./Southwestern CC) had four kills and junior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, P.R./Polk State College) had five digs.
Pace was led by Brielle Jones who had a team-high seven kills.
The Setters held an 8-7 lead in set one before Mercy scored the next seven points to take a 14-8 lead after a Gonzalez and Pomerleau block. Pace later cut the deficit to three, 18-15, but back-to-back kills from Schneid gave the Mavericks a 20-15 lead. The Setters later made it 22-19, but three straight points from the Mavericks gave them the 25-19 set one win.
Pace jumped out to a 6-5 lead in set two before Mercy scored four unanswered points to take a 9-6 lead after a Garay kill. The Setters battled back and tied the set at 12-12, but three unanswered points from the Mavericks put Mercy in front 15-12. Mercy later held a 21-18 lead before closing the set on a 4-1 run, capped off by a Pomerleau kill, to earn the 25-19 set two win.
Mercy jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set three after a Gonzalez service ace. The Setters made it 8-5 later in the set, but the Mavericks went on a 6-1 run to take a 14-6 lead after a Schneid ace. Pace recorded the next four points to make it 14-10, but Mercy ensued with a 5-0 spurt, finished off a Garay kill, to take a 19-10 lead. The Mavericks cruised the rest of the way earning the 25-14 set three win to earn the sweep in their season opener.
Mercy hit .262 with 36 kills, 34 digs, eight aces and two blocks. Pace hit .101 with 24 kills, 22 digs, three aces and four blocks.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, September 5th when they play at Goldey-Beacom at 6 p.m.
