St. John's University Athletics
Kovaleva Named BIG EAST Volleyball Player Of The Week
11/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's senior Valeria Kovaleva was named the BIG EAST Volleyball player of the week, announced by the conference on Monday. Kovaleva was instrumental in leading the Red Storm (18-7, 9-1 BIG EAST) to a pair of 3-1 wins over Villanova and Seton Hall this past weekend. With the victories, STJ remained in first place in the conference.
Kovaleva earns the honor for the first time in her career. She was named to the BIG EAST honor roll twice earlier in the season.
The senior tallied a career-high 21 kills, leading all players on Saturday against the Wildcats. She also earned her 16th double-double of the season, registering 13 digs in the winning effort. On Sunday against the Pirates, Kovaleva recorded 18 kills and a team-high .400 hitting percentage, while contributing seven digs and three service aces.
Kovaleva currently leads the Red Storm and ranks seventh in the BIG EAST with 3.30 kills per set and ranks second on the squad with 3.69 digs per set, a mark that ranks her ninth in the conference.
In other individual rankings, senior Wioleta Leszczynska ranks first among BIG EAST setters and sixth in the nation with 11.71 assists per set, while classmate Lena Yee checks in at second in the conference with 4.24 digs per set. In conference matches only, senior Casie Brooks ranks fifth in the BIG EAST with a .349 hitting percentage, while Kovaleva is eighth with 0.34 service aces per set.
As a team, the Red Storm leads the BIG EAST and is sixth in the NCAA with 13.54 assists per set. STJ also ranks first in the conference with 14.37 kills per set, which also ranks 11th in the nation. The squad ranks second among BIG EAST schools in digs per set (15.52) and opponent's hitting percentage (.169).
St. John's returns to the court on Friday, Nov. 7, when the team plays host to the Bulls of the University of South Florida. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carnesecca Arena.
