St. John's University Athletics
STJ Volleyball Travels To West Virginia And Pitt This Weekend
10/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2008
StormTracker All-Access Free Content
- Joanne Persico-Smith Coach's Show (Oct. 21)
- Inside the Red Storm Senior Spotlight - Lena Yee (Oct. 21)
Friday, Oct. 24 at West Virginia (7 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh (2 p.m.)
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's volleyball team will continue BIG EAST action on the road this weekend with trips to Morgantown, W.Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa. The Red Storm will take on the Mountaineers of West Virginia on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum, and then square off with the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m., at the Fitzgerald Field House, in a match that will decide the top spot in the conference.
STORMWATCH
- The Red Storm enters the weekend with a 14-7 overall record (5-1 BIG EAST) and currently sits in second place in the conference, one-half game behind Pittsburgh.
- St. John's is riding a three-match winning streak and has won nine of its last 10 matches. STJ most recently defeated Rutgers (3-0 on Oct. 10) and UConn (3-2 on Oct. 18).
- Red Storm senior setter Wioleta Leszczynska was named to the BIG EAST volleyball weekly honor roll on Oct. 20 for her efforts in the Red Storm's exciting 3-2 win over UConn on Oct. 18. She posted a match-high 55 assists, her second-highest total of the season, and contributed seven digs, two total blocks, one kill and a .333 hitting percentage in the victory.
- Since the 2006 season, St. John's has posted a 32-2 record in BIG EAST Conference matches.
- STJ has won its last three matches against both West Virginia and Pitt dating back to the 2005 season.
- The Red Storm has posted a 6-1 record when playing on the road at West Virginia and is 2-5 when playing at Pitt.
Where They Fare
In The Nation:
- St. John's currently ranks eighth in the NCAA with 13.33 assists per set, led by senior Leszczynska, whose 11.62 assists per set currently ranks eighth.
- The Red Storm ranks 17th in the nation with 14.11 kills per set.
In The BIG EAST (Overall): - STJ ranks first amongst all conference schools with 13.33 assists per set and 14.11 kills per set.
- The Red Storm checks in at second in the BIG EAST in digs per set (15.49), as well as opponents' hitting percentage (.167).
- St. John's ranks sixth in the conference with a .230 hitting percentage.
- Leszczysnka's 11.62 assists per set leads all setters in the BIG EAST.
- Seniors Lena Yee and Valeria Kovaleva are both listed among conference leaders in digs per set: Yee has registered 4.20, which is good for third in the BIG EAST, while Kovaleva's 3.79 checks in at eighth.
In The BIG EAST (Conference Matches Only): - STJ ranks first in the conference in opponents' hitting percentage against BIG EAST schools with a .151 mark.
- The Red Storm is third in the BIG EAST with 1.50 service aces per set.
- Senior Casie Brooks ranks fifth in the conference with a .385 hitting percentage.
- Freshman Darlene Ramdin ranks sixth in the BIG EAST with 0.42 services aces per set.
Scouting The Mountaineers
West Virginia enters the weekend with a 6-14 overall record (0-7 BIG EAST) under 34-year head coach Veronica Hammersmith. The Mountaineers have dropped their last four matches and eight of their last nine. WVU most recently lost to Pitt (3-1 on Oct. 17) and Duquesne (3-2 on Oct. 19).
Hammersmith is returning 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, including four starters. There are five newcomers for West Virginia this year. Leading the Mountaineers in 2008 has been freshman Kylie Armbruster with 2.44 kills per set and sophomore Bonnie West with 3.99 digs per set. Freshman Kari Post and redshirt junior Nicole Jones have been splitting the setting job, as Post leads the team with 8.18 assist per set and Jones has 7.97.
Friday's meeting will be the 14th between all-time between St. John's and West Virginia. The Red Storm leads the series 11-2. The teams last met on Sept. 30, 2007, when STJ came out on top, 3-0 (30-27, 30-16, 30-26).
Scouting The Panthers
Pitt enters the weekend with a 14-8 overall record and currently sits in first place in the BIG EAST with a 6-1 conference record under first year head coach Toby Rens. The Panthers have won four matches in a row and 11 of their last 12. Pittsburgh most recently defeated Youngstown State (3-1 on Oct. 14) and West Virginia (3-1 on Oct. 17).
Seven letterwinners return from the 2007 squad, including all but one starter. Pitt has five newcomers playing in 2008. Senior Kelly Campbell leads the Panthers with 3.57 kills per set, while junior libero Michelle Rossi leads the defense with 4.33 digs per set. Senior Nicole Taurence has a team-high 6.96 assists per set, while freshman Allyson Hodnik shares the load with 5.74 assist per set. Senior Jessica Moses has a Panther-best 1.06 blocks per set.
Sunday's meeting will be the 16th meeting all-time between the Red Storm and Panthers. Pittsburgh leads the series, 11-4. The team's last met on Sept. 29, 2007, in Queens, when St. John's defeated Pitt, 3-1 (30-28, 33-35, 30-12, 30-28).
On Deck
The Red Storm will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 1, when the team plays host to the Villanova Wildcats at 2 p.m. The next day, St. John's will take on the Pirates of Seton Hall at 2 p.m. Both matches will be held at the newly-renovated Carnesecca Arena.
