St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Colgate (Colgate Raider Challenge)
Red Storm Tops Princeton, Colgate to Win Colgate Classic
10/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 18, 2004
HAMILTON, NY (September 18, 2004) - Jackie Ahlers was named Most Valuable Player as the St. John's volleyball team swept the Colgate Classic beating Princeton 3-2 (25-30, 30-26, 30-26, 25-30, 15-12) and Colgate 3-0 (31-29, 30-28, 30-27) today for the title. Senior Yana Ruban and sophomore Nicole Colaluca were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts over the weekend.
St. John's improves to 6-3 (0-0 BIG EAST) while Princeton and Colgate drop to 6-1 and 3-7, respectively.
Against Princeton, Ahlers (35 kills), Colaluca (31 digs), Ruban (25 kills) and setter Lisa Tedder (68 assists) all broke their individual career records at St. John's. Against Colgate, Ahlers led the Red Storm with 17 kills, Ruban added 12 kills and Tedder recorded 44 assists.
In the first match, down 15-10 the Tigers went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead of the Red Storm who had dominated the game until this point. Co-captain Ruban went seven for nine to bring St. John's back on top at 17 but Princeton stormed back taking a dominating lead at 28-22 and eventually winning the game 30-25.
Tied until seven, the Red Storm pulled to a four-point lead at 14-10. Princeton came back with consistent hitting by Alex Brown to bring the Tigers back on top. Tied at 22, the Red Storm went on a 6-2 run with aggressive serving by Ahlers and hitting by Ruban. With a kill by Ahlers the Red Storm took the second game 30-26.
In game three, St. John's pulled ahead at 13-10 with aggressive back row defense by libero Colaluca. With the Tigers down by three, serving by Lauren Grumet put Princeton on top at 22-21. Ahlers answered back with two kills down the line as the Red Storm went on a late game run and took the game 30-26.
At 9-7 when the Tigers pulled ahead by four, Ahlers responded pushing two through the block for the Red Storm. Down by seven St. John's stormed back to within two from aggressive defensive plays at the net by freshmen Sherryta Stokes and Caitlin Rimgaila. Tied at 25, the Tigers went on a 5-0 run taking the fourth game 30-25.
In the deciding game, the score was tied throughout the first five points when Princeton's defensive plays put them on top 7-5. Four straight kills by Ahlers and diving digs by Colaluca increased the Red Storm's momentum to take the lead and the game 15-12.
Against Colgate in the second match, the Raiders pulled out to an early 7-3 lead with consistent hitting at the net. St. John's stormed back to tie the game at 17 and eventually take the lead at 24 with defensive efforts from Colaluca. An intense Colgate squad came back to take a 29-28 lead against the Red Storm, but Colaluca stepped up and served two quick aces for St. John's to win at 31-29.
St. John's took a quick lead in the second game with aggressive serving by freshman Laura Sudano. The Raiders came back to take the lead at 16 and go on a 7-0 run with kills by senior Laurel Oliver. Down 22-15 Ahlers and Ruban put down three blocks in a row to start a 13-4 run and lead St. John's back over Colgate 30-28.
In game three, the Red Storm pulled out to an early 8-4 lead over the Raiders with kills by Anicia Wood. At 23-15, the Raiders went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to one. St. John's fired back led by aggressive serving by Tedder to take the final game, 30-27.
The Red Storm returns to action this Wednesday when they will host local rival Hofstra for the Queens-Nassau Cup at Alumni Hall. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
