St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Providence
Red Storm Sweeps Providence On The Road
10/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Red Storm (13-8, 3-3 BIG EAST) got its seventh sweep of the season, and its first in league play after defeating Providence (10-10, 1-5 BIG EAST), 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-15) on the road Saturday afternoon.
"It was a fantastic team effort on the road! We had a lot of energy today, we were focused and we stuck to the game plan," said head coach Joanne Persico.
St. John's defense proved to be the difference as the Red Storm held the Friars to a .031 attacking percentage while also forcing 25 errors. The Red Storm, who also is the BIG EAST leader in blocks, was again active at the net as they outblocked the Friars 11-5.
The Red Storm kept the Friars off balance throughout the match with both setters Deniz Mutlugil and Hope Demel directing the offense. Mutlugil, who is fourth all-time in program history in assists, led the team with 20 assists, while Demel saw extensive action and finished with a season-high 13 assists.
St. John's was very efficient on the offensive end as they registered a .372 attacking percentage, while only committing nine errors. Leading the attack for the Red Storm was Karin Palgutova, Margherita Bianchin and Julia Cast, who all finished in double-digits in kills. Palgutova and Bianchin both tallied 11 kills each and Cast was just one shy of that mark at 10.
The Red Storm middle blockers have shown tremendous improvement throughout the year and Saturday was no different. Redshirt sophomore Danisha Moss finished with four blocks, including two solo. Moss, the BIG EAST leader in blocks, was not alone as she got plenty of help in the middle from redshirt junior Briana Guzman, who racked up seven stuffs along with four kills.
Sophomore Delaney D'Amore anchored the defense with 11 digs, but also contributed offensively with a career-high seven assists.
St. John's battled with Providence in the first stanza as the Friars got within two (24-22) late after a kill from Kayla Fitgerald, which led to a Red Storm timeout. Mutlugil and Palgutova would then connect on the ensuing play to give St. John's the set, 25-22.
The Red Storm stayed in command in the second frame holding Providence to a -.088 attacking percentage, while hitting an impressive .455 clip. Bianchin registered four kills, while Cast picked up three. St. John's led throughout the set and won in convincing fashion, 25-13, to take a 2-0 lead in the match into intermission.
In the third set, Bianchin was again aggressive as she posted five kills on a .625 attacking percentage to lead the Red Storm. Moss and Guzman continued to make things difficult for the Friars attackers as they tallied five kills (two solo - Moss). Providence once again was held to a negative attacking percentage (-.056) and the Red Storm would easily take the set, 25-15.
UP NEXT
St. John's returns to Carnesecca Arena to face Seton Hall on the BIG EAST Digital Network for a midweek match on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. The Pirates leads the all-time series, 12-11 after winning both matches last season (10/1/14 and 10/30/14).
