St. John’s Wins Third Straight, 3-1, against Providence

Friday, March 19

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

3 PM ET

St. John's University

8-3 (4-2)

Providence College

5-2 (3-2)

Providence

St. John's

St. John’s Wins Third Straight, 3-1, against Providence

3/19/2021 8:21:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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Rachele Rastelli tallied a match-high 17 kills in the victory

By: Jared Anderson

QUEENS, N.Y. (March 19, 2021) – After earning a pair of wins over Seton Hall last weekend, the St. John's volleyball team secured its third straight conference victory against Providence at Carnesecca Arena on Friday.

The Red Storm's five seniors were recognized prior to the contest, as the program honored Kayley Wood, Jordan McCalla, Maria Angelica Palacios, Klara Mikelova and Tiziana Baumrukova.

The Johnnies captured the first two sets, 25-16, and 25-21, before the Friars rallied back to take the third, 25-20. St. John's came out determined in the fourth and grabbed the final frame, 25-21.

Rachele Rastelli led the way for the Red Storm on offense, putting down a match-high 17 kills while hitting at a .350 clip. The junior right-side hitter also collected five blocks, four digs and one ace.

Baumrukova notched a double-double of 44 assists and 13 digs. The senior setter dished out at least 40 helpers for the ninth time this season. She currently leads the conference with 11.91 assists per set.

Efrosini Alexakou posted 10 kills in the victory while McCalla notched nine kills and a team-high 14 digs.

St. John's (8-3, 4-2 BIG EAST) took an early six-point lead in the opening set with a pair of kills from Alexakou and Palacios, 11-5. Providence (5-2, 3-2 BIG EAST) responded with an 8-3 run to cut the deficit to one, 14-13. The Red Storm refused to let up, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to sit at match point, 24-15. The Friars scored on the next play, 24-16, but a kill from Rastelli helped St. John's secure the first frame, 25-16.

The Red Storm took a one-point edge over Providence at the start of the second, 6-5. The Johnnies exploded on a 11-3 run with back-to-back kills from Rastelli setting the score at 17-8. The Friars fought their way back, eventually coming within two late in the set after an ace from Allison Barber, 21-19. Rastelli put down a kill to place St. John's at match point, 24-20. After Providence scored on the next play, 24-21, Rastelli put another ball into the floor to give the Red Storm the second frame, 25-21, and a 2-0 match lead.

The Friars went on top by six to begin the third set, 12-6. However, the Johnnies quickly put together a 9-1 run to take a 15-13 lead. Providence scored seven of the next eight points to go up 20-16. An ace from Rastelli cut the lead to two late in the frame, 22-20, but three straight attack errors allowed the Friars to grab the third, 25-20.

St. John's got off to a slow start in the fourth, as Providence went in front by four, 10-6. After a kill from Alexakou knotted the score at 14 apiece, a pair of kills from Ariadni Kathariou and Rastelli helped the Red Storm take a two-point lead, 16-14. An ace from the Friars put the team within striking distance late, 21-20, but a 4-1 spurt helped the Johnnies close out the fourth frame and match, 25-21.

The Red Storm returns to Carnesecca Arena tomorrow afternoon for its second meeting with the Friars. The contest is slated for a 3 p.m. start time and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.