St. John's University Athletics
Tuesday, September 7
Queens, N.Y. (Taffner Fieldhouse)
4 p.m.
St. John's University
3-4,0-0Big East
3
vs
0
Rhode Island
2-6,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
3
F
Rhode Island
26
17
18
0
St. John's (NY)
28
25
25
3
St. John’s Sweeps Rhode Island in Home Opener
9/7/2021 7:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Efrosini Alexakou posted a match-high 19 kills in the Johnnies’ three-set victory
QUEENS, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2021) – The St. John's volleyball team defeated Rhode Island in a three-set sweep on Tuesday afternoon in its home opener.
The first set was won by a small margin, 28-26, before the Red Storm powered through to win the second and third sets, 25-17 and 25-18, respectively.
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Efrosini Alexakou put down a match-high 19 kills. The senior also collected twelve digs for her second straight double-double.
Rachele Rastelli notched 17 kills and the lone Red Storm block while Tiziana Baumrukova tallied 49 assists. Eleonora Tosi chipped in nine kills on an incredibly effective. 500 hitting percentage while Georgia Walther added eight. Tosi and Klara Mikelova each recorded a service ace.
The Rams and the Red Storm traded points to start the first set before a 13-9 run gave the Rams set point, 24-20. With her team facing a potentially early deficit, Efrosini tallied two straight kills followed by a Rhode Island error and a kill by Rastelli to tie the set at 24. The teams tied again at 25 and 26 before Rastelli closed the set with two kills to make it 28-26.
Rhode Island nearly overcame an early second-set deficit to get within one, 13-12, before a 5-0 run pushed the Red Storm ahead by six, 18-12. During the spurt, Rastelli tallied two kills while Tosi and Wiktoria Kowalczyk both added one. The Rams would get no closer than five for the remainder of the set.
Trailing 10-6 early in the third set, the Johnnies responded with four straight points to tie the score at 10. The teams traded blows before St. John's retook the lead for good at 15-14. In a 5-1 burst to close the match, Alexakou recorded three of the Red Storm's five points.
The Johnnies return to action this weekend as they host the Jack Kaiser Classic beginning Friday at 2 p.m. against Fordham.
The first set was won by a small margin, 28-26, before the Red Storm powered through to win the second and third sets, 25-17 and 25-18, respectively.
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Efrosini Alexakou put down a match-high 19 kills. The senior also collected twelve digs for her second straight double-double.
Rachele Rastelli notched 17 kills and the lone Red Storm block while Tiziana Baumrukova tallied 49 assists. Eleonora Tosi chipped in nine kills on an incredibly effective. 500 hitting percentage while Georgia Walther added eight. Tosi and Klara Mikelova each recorded a service ace.
The Rams and the Red Storm traded points to start the first set before a 13-9 run gave the Rams set point, 24-20. With her team facing a potentially early deficit, Efrosini tallied two straight kills followed by a Rhode Island error and a kill by Rastelli to tie the set at 24. The teams tied again at 25 and 26 before Rastelli closed the set with two kills to make it 28-26.
Rhode Island nearly overcame an early second-set deficit to get within one, 13-12, before a 5-0 run pushed the Red Storm ahead by six, 18-12. During the spurt, Rastelli tallied two kills while Tosi and Wiktoria Kowalczyk both added one. The Rams would get no closer than five for the remainder of the set.
Trailing 10-6 early in the third set, the Johnnies responded with four straight points to tie the score at 10. The teams traded blows before St. John's retook the lead for good at 15-14. In a 5-1 burst to close the match, Alexakou recorded three of the Red Storm's five points.
The Johnnies return to action this weekend as they host the Jack Kaiser Classic beginning Friday at 2 p.m. against Fordham.
Team Stats
URI
SJU
Kills
32
56
Errors
15
21
Attempts
107
124
Hitting %
.159
.282
Points
40
67
Assists
31
56
Aces
2
2
Blocks
6
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballRH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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