Bieniek, Dilena, Rivera Rodriguez, Zalta Named AVCA All-America Honorable Mentions

COLONIA, N.J. – Mercy senior outside hitter Gabriela Bieniek, sophomore outside hitter Grace Dilena, and junior setter Adriana Rivera Rodriguez and Molloy graduate student setter Julia Zalta have earned 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention accolades, it was announced on Wednesday afternoon.  The Mercy trio helped lead the Mavericks to their first ECC Championship since 2001 and their first NCAA Tournament East Region Final since 2001.  Bieniek is named All-American for the first time in her career. The senior was also named AVCA and D2CCA First Team All-Region. The ECC Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC selection led the ECC in total points and points per set (471, 4.86) and total kills and kills per set (401, 4.13), which both rank in the top 15 of NCAA Division II. The senior played all 97 sets for Mercy this fall and added a team-leading 49 aces with 173 digs and 33 blocks. The outside hitter totaled double-digit kills in 24 of 27 matches to lead the Mavericks to a 22-5 overall record and 11-1 mark in ECC play en route to Mercy's first ECC Regular Season and Tournament Championships since 2001. Dilena receives All-American honors for the first time in her career. The sophomore was also named AVCA First Team All-Region and D2CCA Second Team All-Region. The First Team All-ECC selection finished second on the team with 373 kills and 47 aces and was third with 212 digs. The outside hitter was second in the ECC in kills and third in kills per set (3.85). The ECC Championship's Most Outstanding Player had six double-doubles on the year and had a season-high 23 kills in the win over Holy Family on December 5th.  Rivera Rodriguez is named All-American for the first time in her career. The junior was named AVCA First Team All-Region. The ECC Setter of the Year and First Team All-ECC selection led the ECC in total assists and assists per set (896, 9.24). The five-time ECC Setter of the Week played in all 97 sets for Mercy and added 66 kills and 37 aces with a team-high 244 digs. Rivera Rodriguez totaled 30+ assists in 19 of 27 matches and finished with 10 double-doubles. Zalta was previously named All-ECC First Team and All-Region Honorable Mention by the AVCA. Over the season, she competed in all 28 contests and totaled 565 assists, 230 digs, 209 kills, 52 blocks, and 57 service aces. She totaled 17 double-doubles and one triple-double, putting up 13 kills, 19 assists, and 10 digs at Daemen.
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