Villanova Edges Red Storm In Five-Set Thriller

Wednesday, September 24

Villanova, Pa. (Jake Nevin Field House)

7:00 PM

St. John's University

Villanova

Junior Karin Palgutova is only the second St. John's player in program history to receive All-Region honors in three-consecutive years.

9/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Sept. 24, 2014

Â· Box Score

Â· Box Score (PDF)

Â· Season Statistics

Â· Season Statistics (PDF)

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VILLANOVA, Pa. - Despite out-digging Villanova, 78-66, St. John's was outlasted, 3-2 (21-25, 25-11, 21-25, 25-21, 13-15), in a tightly fought match on the road at the Jack Nevin Field House Wednesday night. The Red Storm managed to hold the Wildcats to a .153 hitting percentage, and are now 1-2 in five-setters this season. St. John's falls to 11-5 on the season and 0-1 in the BIG EAST, while Villanova improves to 8-8 and 1-0.

Junior Karin Palgutova led the St. John's attack with her third-consecutive double-double and sixth this season. The Bratislava, Slovakia, native had a season-high 25 kills and 17 digs. She had a .316 attacking percentage and also picked up four blocks (one solo, three assisted). Senior Aleksandra Wachowicz continued her steady play this season with 15 kills and seven digs. Senior Ashley Boursiquot had a season-high 10 kills and four blocks, while hitting .333 on 18 swings.

Junior Deniz Mutlugil was very effective in controlling the offense after missing the last match against Towson. The Istanbul, Turkey, native dished out a season-high 59 assists to go along with five digs and a service ace. Junior Shawna-Lei Santos anchored the defense as she had a team-high 28 digs. Redshirt sophomore Briana Guzman tallied nine kills and three blocks, while freshman Delaney D'Amore chipped in nine digs, a service ace and an assist. Junior Yaidy Santiago was once again a spark off the bench as she finished with six kills, four digs, and a career-high three service aces.

After trailing, 2-1, in the match, Villanova never led in the fourth set. St. John's jumped out to an 8-4 lead after an ace by Santiago, prompting the Wildcats to call a timeout. Villanova tied the set at 19-19 following an attack error by Wachowicz. Three consecutive errors by the Wildcats gave the Red Storm a comfortable 22-19 lead late and St. John's would eventually go on to take the set (25-21) and tie the match at 2-2.

St. John's had an early 2-0 lead in the fifth set, but Villanova would respond with a kill by Collen Hickey, followed by an attack error by Guzman. For the remainder of the set, which had 10 tied scores and three lead changes, neither team lead by more than a point until a bad set by Guzman gave the Wildcats an 11-9 lead. St. John's tied the score again at 13-13 after a Palgutova kill, but an attack error by Santiago followed by a service ace by Makenzie Northrup gave Villanova a 15-13 fifth set victory.

UP NEXT

St. John's returns home for a pair of BIG EAST matches this weekend. The Red Storm will take on DePaul on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. and Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. Both matches will be broadcast on ESPN3.