St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s to Play Butler and Xavier in Midwest Trip
10/7/2021 4:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SJUVB Conference Weekend 3 Match NotesWatch (Butler)Live Stats (Butler)Watch (Xavier)Live Stats (Xavier)
The Red Storm will kick off a two-week road swing
QUEENS, N.Y. (Oct. 7, 2021) – The St. John's volleyball team will head west this weekend to kick off a two-week road swing.
The Johnnies will return to action in Indianapolis against Butler on Friday at 6 p.m. before facing Xavier in Cincinnati the following day at 3:30 p.m. Both matches this weekend will be live streamed. The match against Butler can be found on the Bulldogs' YouTube page while Xavier will stream the match on FloVolleyball. Live stats will also be available and can be found on StatBroadcast and GoXavier.com, respectively.
The Red Storm is currently 2-2 in conference play after defeating nationally-ranked Creighton in four sets during its BIG EAST home opener last Friday before falling to Providence the following day. The Johnnies upset then-No.16 Creighton recording set scores of 25-18, 23-25, 27-25 and 25-20, respectively. Prior to the victory, Creighton's only loss of the season came against then-No.3 Nebraska. The reigning BIG EAST Champion Bluejays have recorded victories over four power conference teams and reigning NCAA Champion Kentucky. 21 hours after downing Creighton, St, John's won the first set against Providence, 25-18, before dropping the next three, 25-23, 27-25, and 25-20, respectively.
Rachele Rastelli was honored as the BIG EAST's Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season after recording a double-double with 22 kills and 10 digs in the upset win over Creighton. Rastelli is the only player in the BIG EAST with a kills per set average over 4.00. On the season, the senior from Parma, Italy, is now averaging 4.24 kills per set and hitting at a .264 clip. She has recorded double-digit kills in 14 of 18 matches this season.
On the national leaderboards, St. John's players continue to occupy top spots in multiple statistical categories. Rastelli is currently third in the nation in total points with 329.5. She is also tied for fourth with 280 total kills, 20th with 4.99 points per set and 30th with 4.24 kills per set. Tiziana Baumrukova currently ranks ninth nationally with 636 total assists and 50th with 10.26 assists per set. Ariadni Kathariou currently sits 10th in Division I with 79 total blocks.
Butler was chosen to finish ninth in the Coaches' Preseason Poll after completing last spring with a 4-10 record. This season, the Bulldogs boast an 8-9 overall record and are currently 2-2 in conference play. Last weekend, Butler defeated Georgetown in four sets before falling to Villanova in a three-set sweep. The Bulldogs return Preseason All-BIG EAST pick Melody Davidson. Davidson currently leads the Bulldogs offensively with 3.71 kills per set and defensively with 61 total blocks across 62 sets.
St. John's has won three of its last four meetings with the Bulldogs, but trails in the overall series, 9-5.
Xavier was selected to finish fourth in the preseason poll after completing last spring with a 3-3 record in conference play. The Musketeers will play Seton Hall on Friday before welcoming St. John's on Saturday. Xavier is currently 8-6 overall and 3-1 in league action. Last weekend, the Musketeers swept Villanova in three sets before taking a five-set victory against Georgetown. Xavier returns Preseason All-BIG EAST Pick Carrigan O'Reilly. O'Reilly currently leads the Musketeers with 500 total assists and 9.43 assists per set.
Xavier leads the all-time series with St. John's, 10-5.
The Johnnies will return to action in Indianapolis against Butler on Friday at 6 p.m. before facing Xavier in Cincinnati the following day at 3:30 p.m. Both matches this weekend will be live streamed. The match against Butler can be found on the Bulldogs' YouTube page while Xavier will stream the match on FloVolleyball. Live stats will also be available and can be found on StatBroadcast and GoXavier.com, respectively.
The Red Storm is currently 2-2 in conference play after defeating nationally-ranked Creighton in four sets during its BIG EAST home opener last Friday before falling to Providence the following day. The Johnnies upset then-No.16 Creighton recording set scores of 25-18, 23-25, 27-25 and 25-20, respectively. Prior to the victory, Creighton's only loss of the season came against then-No.3 Nebraska. The reigning BIG EAST Champion Bluejays have recorded victories over four power conference teams and reigning NCAA Champion Kentucky. 21 hours after downing Creighton, St, John's won the first set against Providence, 25-18, before dropping the next three, 25-23, 27-25, and 25-20, respectively.
Rachele Rastelli was honored as the BIG EAST's Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time this season after recording a double-double with 22 kills and 10 digs in the upset win over Creighton. Rastelli is the only player in the BIG EAST with a kills per set average over 4.00. On the season, the senior from Parma, Italy, is now averaging 4.24 kills per set and hitting at a .264 clip. She has recorded double-digit kills in 14 of 18 matches this season.
On the national leaderboards, St. John's players continue to occupy top spots in multiple statistical categories. Rastelli is currently third in the nation in total points with 329.5. She is also tied for fourth with 280 total kills, 20th with 4.99 points per set and 30th with 4.24 kills per set. Tiziana Baumrukova currently ranks ninth nationally with 636 total assists and 50th with 10.26 assists per set. Ariadni Kathariou currently sits 10th in Division I with 79 total blocks.
Butler was chosen to finish ninth in the Coaches' Preseason Poll after completing last spring with a 4-10 record. This season, the Bulldogs boast an 8-9 overall record and are currently 2-2 in conference play. Last weekend, Butler defeated Georgetown in four sets before falling to Villanova in a three-set sweep. The Bulldogs return Preseason All-BIG EAST pick Melody Davidson. Davidson currently leads the Bulldogs offensively with 3.71 kills per set and defensively with 61 total blocks across 62 sets.
St. John's has won three of its last four meetings with the Bulldogs, but trails in the overall series, 9-5.
Xavier was selected to finish fourth in the preseason poll after completing last spring with a 3-3 record in conference play. The Musketeers will play Seton Hall on Friday before welcoming St. John's on Saturday. Xavier is currently 8-6 overall and 3-1 in league action. Last weekend, the Musketeers swept Villanova in three sets before taking a five-set victory against Georgetown. Xavier returns Preseason All-BIG EAST Pick Carrigan O'Reilly. O'Reilly currently leads the Musketeers with 500 total assists and 9.43 assists per set.
Xavier leads the all-time series with St. John's, 10-5.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
RH
/ Women's VolleyballSt. John's Volleyball vs Providence Highlights 11.1.2025
Saturday, November 01
Volleyball vs. Uconn game highlights 10.31.25
Friday, October 31
St. John's Volleyball vs Seton Hall Highlights 10.14.25
Tuesday, October 14
St. John's Women's Volleyball vs Delaware State Highlights 9.13.2025
Saturday, September 13