St. John's University Athletics

St. John’s Picks Up Straight-Set Victory Over Xavier
11/8/2019 11:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Red Storm defeated the Musketeers in three sets for the second time this season
QUEENS, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2019) – Rachele Rastelli put down a match-high 16 kills on Friday night, as the St. John's volleyball team defeated Xavier in straight sets inside Carnesecca Arena.
Set scores were 25-20, 25-20, and 25-13, all in favor of the Red Storm.
The Johnnies now ride a two-game win streak and have lost just one frame in their last two matchups after picking up a four-set victory against Providence last weekend.
Rastelli registered 16 kills while hitting at a .423 clip in the win. The sophomore right side hitter ranks second on the team with 275 kills this season.
Efrosini Alexakou notched 12 kills, six digs and four blocks as senior setter Erica Di Maulo dished out 35 assists and recorded three blocks, three digs, two kills and one service ace.
Senior libero Amanda Sanabia led both teams with 13 digs while middle blocker Ariadni Kathariou registered five blocks.
As the first set fell underway, Xavier (9-14, 6-7 BIG EAST) took an early two-point lead following an attack error from St. John's, 8-6. The Red Storm (16-10, 8-5 BIG EAST) quickly responded as a service ace from Di Maulo capped off a 3-0 spurt to put the Johnnies back on top, 9-8. As the set wore on, a kill from Alexakou helped put St. John's out in front by three, 18-15. After an Alexakou kill later set the score at 23-19, the Musketeers' Ellie Chaffee answered with kill of her own, 23-20. However, the Red Storm notched the next two points to close out the first frame, 25-20.
St. John's and Xavier both struggled to break away at the start of set number two as the score stood at 9-9. A service ace from Sanabia and a Di Maulo kill put the Johnnies up by two, 11-9, before the Musketeers picked up the next three points to take a one-point lead, 12-11. The two teams traded blows with a kill from Moriah Hopkins keeping Xavier out in front, 14-13. The Red Storm came back with a pair of kills from Klara Mikelova and a service ace from Sheena Yoshioka to jump back ahead, 16-14. With the Johnnies holding a four-point lead late in the frame, 23-19, a kill from MaryAnn O'Toole brought the Musketeers within three, 23-20. Alexakou answered with back-to-back kills to give the Red Storm the second set, 25-20, and a 2-0 match lead.
The two teams remained deadlocked at the start of the final set, 5-5, before St. John's erupted on a 10-0 run to establish a 15-5 deficit. While Xavier tried to cut away at the lead, the Johnnies continued to push the pace as a kill from Mikelova put the Red Storm on top by 12, 21-9. Despite the Musketeers working their way back to stand within 10, 23-13, two blocks helped St. John's put away the set and match, 25-13.
The Red Storm will return to action when the team takes on Butler this Sunday inside Carnesecca Arena. The start time is slated for 12 p.m.
Set scores were 25-20, 25-20, and 25-13, all in favor of the Red Storm.
The Johnnies now ride a two-game win streak and have lost just one frame in their last two matchups after picking up a four-set victory against Providence last weekend.
Rastelli registered 16 kills while hitting at a .423 clip in the win. The sophomore right side hitter ranks second on the team with 275 kills this season.
Efrosini Alexakou notched 12 kills, six digs and four blocks as senior setter Erica Di Maulo dished out 35 assists and recorded three blocks, three digs, two kills and one service ace.
Senior libero Amanda Sanabia led both teams with 13 digs while middle blocker Ariadni Kathariou registered five blocks.
As the first set fell underway, Xavier (9-14, 6-7 BIG EAST) took an early two-point lead following an attack error from St. John's, 8-6. The Red Storm (16-10, 8-5 BIG EAST) quickly responded as a service ace from Di Maulo capped off a 3-0 spurt to put the Johnnies back on top, 9-8. As the set wore on, a kill from Alexakou helped put St. John's out in front by three, 18-15. After an Alexakou kill later set the score at 23-19, the Musketeers' Ellie Chaffee answered with kill of her own, 23-20. However, the Red Storm notched the next two points to close out the first frame, 25-20.
St. John's and Xavier both struggled to break away at the start of set number two as the score stood at 9-9. A service ace from Sanabia and a Di Maulo kill put the Johnnies up by two, 11-9, before the Musketeers picked up the next three points to take a one-point lead, 12-11. The two teams traded blows with a kill from Moriah Hopkins keeping Xavier out in front, 14-13. The Red Storm came back with a pair of kills from Klara Mikelova and a service ace from Sheena Yoshioka to jump back ahead, 16-14. With the Johnnies holding a four-point lead late in the frame, 23-19, a kill from MaryAnn O'Toole brought the Musketeers within three, 23-20. Alexakou answered with back-to-back kills to give the Red Storm the second set, 25-20, and a 2-0 match lead.
The two teams remained deadlocked at the start of the final set, 5-5, before St. John's erupted on a 10-0 run to establish a 15-5 deficit. While Xavier tried to cut away at the lead, the Johnnies continued to push the pace as a kill from Mikelova put the Red Storm on top by 12, 21-9. Despite the Musketeers working their way back to stand within 10, 23-13, two blocks helped St. John's put away the set and match, 25-13.
The Red Storm will return to action when the team takes on Butler this Sunday inside Carnesecca Arena. The start time is slated for 12 p.m.
Team Stats
XU
SJU
Kills
28
46
Errors
20
12
Attempts
105
108
Hitting %
.076
.315
Points
37.0
59.0
Assists
28
46
Aces
2
3
Blocks
7.0
10.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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