St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Volleyball Wins Rutgers Spring Tournament
3/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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QUEENS, N.Y. -- St. John's volleyball opened the spring season with a bang this weekend as the Red Storm won the Rutgers Spring Tournament at the College Avenue Gymnasium in New Brunswick, N.J. St. John's defeated Hofstra and Seton Hall, 2-0, and host Rutgers, 2-1. The Red Storm finished the single-day tournament with a 6-1 record.
St. John's 2, Hofstra 0
Three-time All-BIG EAST First Team member Karin Palgutova led St. John's with seven kills and four aces in the 2-0 (26-24, 25-16) win against Hofstra. Â Junior Yaidy Santiago also got in on the action as she finished with six kills, while sophomore Mona Karkkainen was right behind her with five. Redshirt freshman Danisha Moss made an impact at the net, finishing with two blocks, while also picking up two kills. Junior setter Deniz Mutlugil engineered the offense and finished with a match-high 21 assists.
St. John's 2, Rutgers 1
The Red Storm found themselves in an uphill battle early against host Rutgers, as the Scarlet Knights took the first set 25-22. The Red Storm would respond and take the next two sets (25-18, 15-12) to take the match 2-1. St. John's had two players finish in double-digits in kills with Palgutova finishing with 15 kills and Santiago racking up 10. Moss was huge again in the middle for the Red Storm, posting four blocks to lead the squad. Freshman Delaney D'Amore is looking more and more comfortable in the back row, as she led the team in digs with 11.
St. John's 2, Seton Hall 0
In the last match of the day, St. John's defeated cross-town rival, Seton Hall, 2-0 (25-23, 25-15), to win the Rutgers Spring Tournament. Â The Red Storm ran a 6-2 early in the first set with redshirt freshman Hope Demel and freshman Raya O'Neal, who was making her St. John's debut. The first set was close early with St. John's taking an 8-7 lead, but would then push the lead to three (16-13). Demel began to find her rhythm late in the set as she connected with Santiago for several key points. The Red Storm would eventually take the frame 25-23.
Demel led the offense in the second frame helping St. John's open up a 16-8 lead. A couple of big-time blocks by redshirt sophomore Artiana Wynder and a pair of kills by her classmate Briana Guzman, helped the Red Storm extend their lead to 11 (21-10). O'Neal connected with redshirt freshman Ali Healy for the final kill to get the win 25-15. Santiago finished with 12 kills and Demel had a team-leading 13 assists. O'Neal finished with eight assists in her debut. Freshman Julia Cast posted five kills, while Wynder tallied three kills, and two blocks. D'Amore has improved her serve and it showed as she finished with a team-high three aces.
