St. John's University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Hofstra In Ninth Annual Queens-Nassau Cup
9/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's volleyball team will host local rival Hofstra in the ninth annual Queens-Nassau Cup match on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The Red Storm will look to keep the cup in Queens when the two teams square off at 7 p.m. in Carnesecca Arena. The all-time series is tied at eight victories apiece, and since the cup match began in 2002, the Red Storm and Pride are level at four wins each.
STJ defeated the Pride 3-1 in the 2009 Queens-Nassau Cup at Hofstra.
With a win, St. John's (8-1) would tie its best 10-match start in program history. The Red Storm began the 2006 campaign with a 9-1 record. Winners of seven in a row, the Red Storm is coming off a 4-0 sweep of its annual St. John's Classic Sept 3-4. STJ defeated local opponents Columbia, Manhattan and St. Francis and also dropped Denver in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
FOLLOW THE MATCH LIVE
Fans can keep up with all of the live action by following the St. John's volleyball Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/STJ_Volleyball.
Live stats of every match will be available for free on www.RedStormSports.com.
A live video feed will also be available for every home match of the season on StormTracker All-Access at www.RedStormSports.com.
StormTracker All-Access is available for $9.95 per month and $79.95 for the entire 2010-11 Red Storm athletic season.
STORMWATCH
Transfers Brunna Kronbauer, Anzelika Lukjanska, Paulina Piegza and Sabina Papala have combined for 270 of the team's 439 kills (62%).
Lukjanska, the STJ Classic MVP, and Kronbauer were both named to the classic's all-tournament team.
Lukjanska was also named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for her performance in the classic.
Kronbauer has recorded 17 service aces in 2010, for an average of 0.61 per set, ranking her third in the BIG EAST conference.
STJ currently leads the BIG EAST in service aces with 63.
Sophomore setter Gabriela Petkova has a team-high 350 assists and is averaging 10.61 per set, ranking her fourth in the BIG EAST.
St. John's .276 attack percentage ranks third in the BIG EAST.
Junior captain Darlene Ramdin leads the Red Storm with 32 blocks (10 solo, 22 assisted).
Freshman libero Korina Yee has recorded a team-high 85 digs and played in all 33 sets.
SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Hofstra is 2-5 to start the 2010 campaign with wins against Iona and High Point.
The Pride's sophomore middle blocker Carolyn Jenkins leads the team in kills (78), attack percentage (.282) and blocks (19).
Freshman outside hitter Nikki Kinnier ranks second in kills (62) and third in digs (51).
Kinnier was named to the Thunder Invitational All-Tournament Team over the weekend, after tallying 31 kills, 27 digs and 10 blocks in three matches.
Sophomore libero Kylee Maneja leads the team with 100 digs, while senior setter Rachel August leads the team with 207 assists.
The Pride was picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association's (CAA) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
HISTORY OF THE QUEENS-NASSAU CUP
With STJ's 3-1 victory over the Pride last season, the Queens-Nassau Cup is now tied at four victories apiece.
After losing the first three cup matches, the Red Storm has won three out of the last four matchups.
There have been three shutouts since the cup began in 2002 and only two instances when the match required a fifth set.
UP NEXT
STJ will travel to Buffalo, N.Y., for the Buffalo Blue and White Classic from Sept. 10-11.
The Red Storm will face Hampton, Binghamton and host institution Buffalo at the annual event.
