St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
West Virginia *
St. John's Volleyball Defeats West Virginia In Straight Sets
10/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The St. John's volleyball team defeated West Virginia, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23), Friday night at the WVU Coliseum. With the win, St. John's improves to 15-8 overall (6-1 BIG EAST), while the Mountaineers fall to 6-15 overall (0-8 BIG EAST).
Leading the Red Storm was senior Valeria Kovaleva, who registered a double-double with 11 kills and a match-high 14 digs. Senior Wioleta Leszczynska had 36 assists to go along with nine digs, three kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Classmates Chen Chen and Casie Brooks each recorded nine kills and Brooks registered six digs on defense. Freshman Darlene Ramdin contributed with six kills, a .235 hitting percentage and a match-high three total blocks. Senior Lena Yee recorded 12 digs in the victory.
St. John's quickly jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set, but the Mountaineers came back to within one and kept the set close early until the Red Storm strung together four straight points to make it 15-9, forcing WVU to call its first timeout. After the breather, West Virginia fought back to within four points at 20-16 and St. John's used it first timeout. Back in action, the Mountaineers scored the next point but STJ responded with two straight. A service ace by Chen gave the Red Storm set point, 24-18, and two plays later Kovaleva ended the set, 25-19.
Both teams traded the first two points of the second set but the Red Storm jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind two straight service aces by Kovaleva. STJ built its lead to 15-8 on a kill by Song and WVU burnt its first timeout of the set. After the break, St. John's kept the momentum and earned set point, 24-13 on a kill by sophomore Diana Banya. A Mountaineer service error ended the set, 25-15, and the Red Storm went into the locker room with a 2-0 match lead.
West Virginia scored the first point of the third set to take its first lead of the night and remained in front until a kill by Chen tied the score at 10-10. On the next play, the Red Storm took an 11-10 lead on a WVU attack error and the Mountaineers called a timeout. After the break, West Virginia scored three of the next four points to take a 13-12 lead and STJ used its first timeout. Back from the breather, St. John's took a 14-13 lead on two straight points. The set remained close until the Red Storm scored three straight to grab a 20-17 lead after two kills by Ramdin sandwhiched one by Kovaleva, and the Mountaineers called their second and final timeout. After the breather, West Virginia kept it close, fighting to within one point, 21-20, then tying the score on the next play, forcing St. John's to use its second timeout. Back in action, the teams swapped the next two points, but STJ would earn match point after a WVU attack error, 24-23, and on the next play, Kovaleva ended the match with a kill as St. John's won 3-0.
For West Virginia, senior Lisa Hough had a team-high eight kills and sophomore Bonnie West equaled the match-high 14 digs. Freshman Kari Post led the Mountaineers with 18 assists.
The Red Storm returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 26, when the squad travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. to take on the Pitt Panthers. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House. For live stats of the match .
