St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Syracuse *
St. John's Volleyball Defeats Syracuse, 3-1
10/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 5, 2008
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The St. John's volleyball team defeated Syracuse, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at SU's Manley Field House. With the 26-24, 25-16, 20-25, 25-18 win, the Red Storm improves to 12-7 overall (3-1 BIG EAST), while Syracuse falls to 9-9 (2-1 BIG EAST).
Leading the Red Storm was sophomore Kun Song who recorded a match-high .467 hitting percentage and a team-high 17 kills. Seniors Valeria Kovaleva and Casie Brooks each registered double-doubles as Kovaleva had 12 kills and 15 digs, while Brooks recorded 11 kills and 10 digs. Classmates Wioleta Leszczynska and Lena Yee were the best at their respective positions, as Leszczynska put up a match-high 52 assists and Yee tallied a match-high 18 digs. Freshman Darlene Ramdin chipped in with 10 kills.
The first set was back-and-forth in the beginning with the Red Storm remaining in front until Syracuse went on a 7-1 run to take a 13-11 lead and force St. John's to call the first timeout of the match. After the breather, with the Orange leading 15-13, STJ took eight of the next 11 points to build up a 21-18 lead and Syracuse used its first timeout. When SU came within one point, 22-21, on three straight kills, the Red Storm called its second and final timeout. A kill by Brooks gave St. John's set-point, 24-22, and Syracuse burnt its final timeout. Back from the break, the Orange forced extended play by grabbing the next two points, but STJ answered with two of its own, as a kills by Ramdin and Song ended the set, 26-24.
Syracuse scored the first point of the second set, but St. John's responded by taking the next five points and built its lead up to 11-5 before forcing the Orange to call timeout. After the breather, SU took four of the next five points, but the Red Storm went on a 7-1 run to extend the lead to 19-10, where Syracuse used its second and final timeout. Back from the breather, the Orange scored three of the next four and the St. John's called its first timeout leading 20-13. A four-hit violation called against the Orange gave STJ set-point, 24-15, and two plays later a kill by Brooks ended the set, 25-16. The Red Storm went into the locker leading two sets to none.
Back from the 10-minute intermission, the Orange came out strong to start the third set, building up an 8-2 lead and forcing St. John's to use an early timeout. After the breather, Syracuse grabbed three of the next four points and the Red Storm burnt the second and final timeout. Back from the break, the Orange gained a 16-9 advantage on a kill, but STJ picked up four straight to come within three points, 16-13, and forced Syracuse to call its first time. After the breather, the Red Storm came within two points, 19-17, after a kill by Ramdin, but the Orange held on to the lead and a kill ended the set, 25-20.
The Red Storm opened the fourth set by grabbing a 4-2 lead, but the Orange quickly answered with five straight points, forcing STJ to call timeout. SU built its lead up to 10-6 then St. John's fought back by going on a 10-2 run to take a 16-12 lead, as Syracuse burnt both timeouts during the run. After the Orange's second breather, St. John's rode out a 9-6 run to win the set on a kill by Song, 25-18, and the Red Storm took the match 3-1.
For Syracuse, junior Sarah Morton had a match-high 17 kills and five blocks, while senior April Quigley led the team with 30 assists. Seniors Kacie MacTavish and Marissa Kanemure tied for the team-high in digs with 12.
St. John's returns to the court on Friday, Oct. 10, when the team hosts Rutgers. First serve between the Red Storm and the Scarlet Knights is set for 7 p.m. at Taffner Field House.
