St. John’s Captures Four-Set Win Over Providence

Sunday, November 3

Providence, R.I. (Alumni Hall)

1:00 PM

St. John's University

15-10 (7-5BE)

Providence

6-19 (1-11BE)

St. John's

Providence

11/3/2019 4:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Efrosini Alexakou and Rachele Rastelli combined for 32 kills in the victory

By: Jared Anderson

            PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 3, 2019) – Efrosini Alexakou and Rachele Rastelli teamed up for 32 kills on Sunday afternoon, as St. John's defeated Providence in four sets at Alumni Hall.

            The Johnnies took the first two frames, 25-22, and 25-13, before the Friars took the third set in extra points, 26-24. However, the Red Storm came out determined in the fourth, capturing the frame and match, 25-18.

            Alexakou posted 16 kills, 10 digs, two assists, two service aces and two blocks in the victory while Rastelli put down 16 kills and recorded three digs, one assist and one block.

            Senior setter Erica Di Maulo dished out a match-high 39 assists while also registering seven digs, three kills and one service ace. Di Maulo extends her all-time service aces record to 139.

            Amanda Sanabia upped 14 digs and collected six assists while Maria Angelica Palacios led both teams with four blocks.

            St. John's (15-10, 7-5 BIG EAST) jumped out to an early lead in the first frame after a kill from Palacios put the Red Storm on top, 8-3. As the set wore on, Providence (6-19, 1-11 BIG EAST) worked its way back to cut the deficit to two, 13-11, but the Johnnies responded with a 7-1 run to stay out in front, 20-12. The Friars came within four late in the frame, 24-20, before picking up the next two points, 24-22. However, a service error from Providence helped give the Red Storm set number one, 25-22.

            The second frame opened up with the Johnnies jumping out to a 9-4 lead following an attack error from the Friars. The two teams traded points until a kill from Rastelli extended St. John's lead to seven, 13-6. Providence and the Red Storm went point-for-point, as a kill from the Friars' Allison Barber cut the deficit to five, 18-13. However, kills from Alexakou, Klara Mikelova and Rastelli helped St. John's score seven unanswered points to close out the set, 25-13, and take a 2-0 match lead.

            As the third set fell underway, a kill from Alexakou put the Johnnies out in front by one, 5-4, before the Red Storm put together a 5-1 spurt to stay on top, 10-5. Providence refused to let up, responding with a 6-1 run of its own to even the score at 11 apiece. A back-and-forth battle quickly ensued, as St. John's took a two-point lead after a service error from the Friars, 20-18. With the Johnnies sitting at match point, 24-23, Providence pushed the frame into extra points after scoring on the next three plays to close out the third set, 26-24.

            The Red Storm came out determined in the fourth frame, taking an eight-point lead after starting off with a 9-1 spurt. The Friars tried to work their way back, as a 4-2 run set the score at 11-5. However, St. John's continued to push the pace while a kill from Rastelli established a 16-10 lead. A kill from Kayley Wood put the Johnnies on top by seven late in the set, 22-15, before Providence notched two points of its own, 22-17. After both sides traded kills, 23-18, a service error from the Friars and a kill from Mikelova helped the Red Storm capture the set and match, 25-18.

            St. John's returns to Carnesecca Arena this Friday night when the team takes on Xavier. The start time is slated for 7 p.m.