GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (Sept. 20, 2023) - Despite double-doubles from seniors Ayzaline Garay (Bayamon, P.R./Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice) and Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC), the Mercy University volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (20-25, 23-25, 21-25) decision to 2022 NCAA Tournament participant Adelphi University on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks (5-1) suffer their first loss of the season, while the Panthers (6-4) have won two matches in a row. Adelphi fell in the East Region Final a year ago.
Mercy was led by Garay who had a match-high 11 kills with a team-high 13 digs. Schneid had 10 kills and 10 digs and senior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, P.R./Monroe College) had a match-high 37 assists. Senior Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) and junior Anyelainy Vizcaino (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Southwestern CC) both had eight kills and junior Aitza Cruz (Vega Alta, P.R./Polk State College) had 11 digs. Sophomore Samantha Cooney (Nyack, N.Y./Nyack) added six digs.
Adelphi was led by Anna Oden who had a team-high nine kills.
The Panthers took an 8-3 lead in set one and later built a 14-8 advantage. The Mavericks rallied with six straight points to tie the set at 14-14 after a Cruz ace. Adelphi retook the lead at 16-14 before back-to-back kills from Vizcaino and Schneid evened the set again at 16-16. The Panthers made it 18-16 before kills from Garay and Schneid tied the set again at 18-18. Adelphi responded with a 5-1 run to take a 23-19 lead. A Gonzalez kill made it 23-20, but back-to-back points from the Panthers gave the hosts a 25-20 set one win.
Mercy held an 8-6 lead in set two after a Garay kill. The Panthers ensued with four consecutive points to take a 10-8 lead. The Mavericks would not go away and scored the next three points to retake the lead at 11-10. Adelphi battled back and held a 16-14 advantage before Mercy rallied with three straight points to take a 17-16 lead. A Mercy service error tied the set at 17-17 before kills from Schneid and Garay put the Mavericks back in front, 19-17. The Panthers went on a 4-0 spurt to take a 21-19 lead. Mercy continued to battle and cut the deficit to one, 24-23, after a Pomerleau kill. However, a Lilyen McCarthy kill gave Adelphi the 25-23 set two win.
The Mavericks built a 5-4 lead in set three before Adelphi went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-7 lead. The Panthers later increased the lead to 19-12, but Mercy rallied with an 8-4 run, capped off by a Vizcaino block, to cut Adelphi's lead to three, 23-20. The teams traded points to make it 24-21 before Noelle Alberda recorded a kill to give the Panthers the set and match in three sets.
Mercy hit .142 with 43 kills, 45 digs, four blocks and three aces. Adelphi hit .257 with 38 kills, 41 digs, eight blocks and three aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, September 24th when they play at Roberts Wesleyan in their ECC opener at 12 p.m.
