St. John's University Athletics
Saturday, September 1
Ithaca, N.Y. (Newman Arena at Bartels Hall)
1:00 PM
St. John's University
5-1
2
vs
3
Buffalo
4-1
1
2
3
4
5
F
Buffalo
25
19
25
22
15
3
St. John's
14
25
19
25
13
2
Red Storm Wins Cornell Invitational for Second-Consecutive Season
9/1/2018 10:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
St. John's went 2-1 to win the event.
The St. John's volleyball team won the Cornell Invitational for the second-consecutive season after posting a 2-1 record over the weekend.
The Red Storm split two matches on Saturday to put them into a three-way tie for first with Buffalo and Cornell. The Johnnies were named tournament champions after dropping the fewest sets overall, which was the tiebreaker.
The Red Storm (6-1) dropped the first match of the day in five sets against Buffalo (5-1). It marked the first loss of the season for the Johnnies in a competitive contest from both sides.
The Bulls outplayed St. John's in the first set winning 25-14 after the Red Storm hit a -.032 clip and had seven attack errors compared to only six kills from five different players.
The Johnnies responded in the second set despite falling behind 7-2 early. Down 14-12, the Red Storm went on a 10-1 run and took frame two 25-19. Sophomore Kayley Wood led the team with 15 kills, six of which came in the set two.
Nia Diaz was named to the All-Tournament Team and set a career high in kills against Buffalo with 14 in the match. Five of those came in set three where St. John's fell 25-19. Down two sets to one, the Johnnies again responded taking the fourth set 25-22. Jordan McCalla recorded two service aces and the Red Storm evened the match at 2-2.
The Bulls took the deciding set 15-13 despite nine assists by the MVP of the Cornell Invitational, Erica Di Maulo. The setter delivered 45 assists and posted her second double-double of the season with 14 digs as well. Lexie Lobdell also had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.
The second match of the day for St. John's came against host-school Cornell. The Big Red (2-1) played their first matches of the season at their home invitational and the Red Storm took the contest in three sets.
The Johnnies never trailed in the first set and won 25-20 while hitting .314 as a team. Rachele Rastelli had five kills in the opening frame and finished with seven to lead the team.
St. John's took the second set 25-21 behind a 6-0 run halfway through the frame to put them up 15-9. Hanna Wagner posted five kills in set two to lead the team. The junior middle blocker recorded eight in the match to go along with five blocks, which led the Johnnies.
The third set also went to the Red Storm 26-24, giving them the match and the tournament. St. John's went up 10-4 before an 8-1 run gave Cornell a 12-11 lead. The two teams traded points before Cornell had an opportunity to push to a fourth set up 24-22. The Johnnies scored four unanswered points to win, highlighted by a kill by Wagner and an ace by Rastelli.
St. John's will travel to Stony Brook on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. The Red Storm fell to the Seawolves last season in five sets.
Final Standings:
1. St. John's (2-1)*
Cornell (2-1)
Buffalo (2-1)
4. Siena (0-3)
*St. John's wins by set percentage (8-3, .727)
All-Tournament Team:
Erica Di Maulo – St. John's (MVP)
Nia Diaz – St. John's
Lily Barber – Cornell
Carla Sganderlla – Cornell
Andrea Mitrovic – Buffalo
Megan Wemette – Buffalo
The Red Storm split two matches on Saturday to put them into a three-way tie for first with Buffalo and Cornell. The Johnnies were named tournament champions after dropping the fewest sets overall, which was the tiebreaker.
The Red Storm (6-1) dropped the first match of the day in five sets against Buffalo (5-1). It marked the first loss of the season for the Johnnies in a competitive contest from both sides.
The Bulls outplayed St. John's in the first set winning 25-14 after the Red Storm hit a -.032 clip and had seven attack errors compared to only six kills from five different players.
The Johnnies responded in the second set despite falling behind 7-2 early. Down 14-12, the Red Storm went on a 10-1 run and took frame two 25-19. Sophomore Kayley Wood led the team with 15 kills, six of which came in the set two.
Nia Diaz was named to the All-Tournament Team and set a career high in kills against Buffalo with 14 in the match. Five of those came in set three where St. John's fell 25-19. Down two sets to one, the Johnnies again responded taking the fourth set 25-22. Jordan McCalla recorded two service aces and the Red Storm evened the match at 2-2.
The Bulls took the deciding set 15-13 despite nine assists by the MVP of the Cornell Invitational, Erica Di Maulo. The setter delivered 45 assists and posted her second double-double of the season with 14 digs as well. Lexie Lobdell also had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.
The second match of the day for St. John's came against host-school Cornell. The Big Red (2-1) played their first matches of the season at their home invitational and the Red Storm took the contest in three sets.
The Johnnies never trailed in the first set and won 25-20 while hitting .314 as a team. Rachele Rastelli had five kills in the opening frame and finished with seven to lead the team.
St. John's took the second set 25-21 behind a 6-0 run halfway through the frame to put them up 15-9. Hanna Wagner posted five kills in set two to lead the team. The junior middle blocker recorded eight in the match to go along with five blocks, which led the Johnnies.
The third set also went to the Red Storm 26-24, giving them the match and the tournament. St. John's went up 10-4 before an 8-1 run gave Cornell a 12-11 lead. The two teams traded points before Cornell had an opportunity to push to a fourth set up 24-22. The Johnnies scored four unanswered points to win, highlighted by a kill by Wagner and an ace by Rastelli.
St. John's will travel to Stony Brook on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. The Red Storm fell to the Seawolves last season in five sets.
Final Standings:
1. St. John's (2-1)*
Cornell (2-1)
Buffalo (2-1)
4. Siena (0-3)
*St. John's wins by set percentage (8-3, .727)
All-Tournament Team:
Erica Di Maulo – St. John's (MVP)
Nia Diaz – St. John's
Lily Barber – Cornell
Carla Sganderlla – Cornell
Andrea Mitrovic – Buffalo
Megan Wemette – Buffalo
Team Stats
UB
SJU
Kills
65
57
Errors
28
27
Attempts
174
166
Hitting %
.213
.181
Points
85.0
70.0
Assists
56
54
Aces
5
3
Blocks
15.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB/RS
/ Women's VolleyballSt. John's Women's Volleyball vs Delaware State Highlights 9.13.2025
Saturday, September 13
Volleyball vs Marist Highlights 9.12.2025
Friday, September 12
Postgame Press Conference St. John's Volleyball vs Bowling Green 12.13
Saturday, December 14
Postgame Press Conference St. John's Volleyball vs UCONN 12.12
Thursday, December 12