St. John’s Sweeps Sacred Heart in Home Opener

Saturday, February 13

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

2:00 PM ET

St. John's University

2-1

Sacred Heart University

0-1

Sacred Heart

St. John's

2/13/2021 5:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

The Red Storm secured its second win of the season with a three-set sweep against the Pioneers

By: Jared Anderson

QUEENS, N.Y. (Feb. 13, 2021) – The St. John's volleyball team handled its business on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Sacred Heart in its home opener at Carnesecca Arena.

The Red Storm took the first two sets, 25-17, and 25-13, before closing out the third frame, 25-18.

Junior outside hitter Efrosini Alexakou was dominate on the offensive end for the Johnnies, racking up a match-high 16 kills while hitting at a .306 clip. Alexakou has registered 13 or more kills in all three matches this season.

Ariadni Kathariou made her presence known on the defensive side of the ball, leading both teams with seven blocks. The middle blocker also collected four kills.

Junior right side hitter Rachele Rastelli recorded nine kills and posted a .533 hitting percentage in the Red Storm's victory.

Tiziana Baumrukova dished out 32 helpers while racking up four digs and three kills.

St. John's got off to a strong start in the first set, as Alexakou buried a ball into the hardwood to put the Johnnies up by two, 6-4. After a kill from Sacred Heart brought the Pioneers within one, 12-11, the Red Storm sounded off on a 6-0 scoring run to extend its lead to seven, 18-11. An attack error from St. John's helped Sacred Heart cut the deficit to five, 19-14, but three kills from Rastelli kept the Johnnies out in front, 23-15. The Pioneers grabbed two of the next four points, but a service error helped give the Red Storm the first set, 25-17.

The second set was all St. John's, as the team jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead. The Johnnies continued to build off their momentum, establishing a seven-point deficit following a kill from Maria Angelica Palacios, 16-9. The Red Storm refused to let up and went on an 8-3 run to set the score at 23-12. The Pioneers grabbed the next point, 23-13, but a kill from Kathariou and a Sacred Heart service error closed out set number two, 25-13, giving the Johnnies the frame and a 2-0 match lead.

The Red Storm kept its foot on the gas in the third, taking a six-point lead early in the set, 8-2. The two teams continued to trade points, as a setter's dump from Baumrukova kept St. John's out in front by six, 17-11. With the score set at 22-16, the Red Storm put together a 4-2 stanza to sit at match point, 24-16. The Pioneers cut the lead to six once again, 24-18, but a kill from Kathariou gave the Johnnies the third frame, 25-18, and a three-set match victory.

St. John's returns to Carnesecca Arena tomorrow afternoon for a Sunday showdown against local foe Stony Brook. The match is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start time and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.