DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — D'Youville's postseason run came to an end in the ECC semifinals, but the Saints fought with determination throughout a straight-set loss to Mercy College, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17, at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center. Despite the sweep, D'Youville pushed Mercy through long rallies, limited standout Gabriela Bieniek to just one ace and controlled stretches of play, but Mercy's 12 aces and timely runs made the difference.
D'Youville answered every punch early, shaking off a quick 3-0 hole as Gabrielle Dials and Giselle Ramirez sparked a response that tied the opening set at 5-5. Angelyn Jaramillo delivered back-to-back aces to give the Saints a 7-5 edge, and D'Youville continued to build momentum behind steady play from Madeline O'Brien and Maddie Boglev, extending the lead to 14-11. The Saints stayed composed even as Mercy surged back, trading points late to reach a 20-20 tie. Though the Mavericks edged out the final run, 25-22, the Saints' pressure and defensive discipline set the tone for the night.
The second set reflected the same fight. Dials and Ramirez fueled a 5-2 start, and D'Youville held an 8-5 advantage before Mercy answered with a push to even the score at 10-10. While ECC player of the year Bieniek, held in check most of the match, managed just a single ace during the run, Mercy's next burst came from the service line, where a streak from Grace Dilena shifted the momentum. Cameron Ulinski added an ace of her own to tie the set at 14-14, but the late surge carried the Mavericks to a 25-18 win.
In the third, D'Youville continued to battle despite Mercy creating early separation through blocks and transition kills. The Saints stayed within reach behind a Ramirez kill assisted by Lauren Scully and a strong block from Boglev and Dials. Still, key errors prevented D'Youville from sustaining a run, and Mercy capitalized with another string of points, closing the match 25-17.
Though the sweep ended the Saints' season, their resilience holding leads, extending rallies, and limiting one of Mercy's top players, reflected a performance defined by grit and composure on the conference's biggest stage.
