St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Takes on UConn in the First Round of the BIG EAST Championships
11/22/2022 7:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The Red Storm defeated the Huskies 3-2 earlier in the season
QUEENS, N.Y. (NOV. 22, 2022) – The St. John's volleyball team earned a spot in the BIG EAST Championships for the tenth time in program history and the fourth time in the last five seasons.
Finishing the regular season with sweeps of Villanova and Georgetown, the Red Storm earned the fourth seed in the tournament. The first round opponent for the Johnnies is fifth-seeded UConn. The two squads only met once in the regular season which resulted in a 3-2 victory for the Red Storm in Carnesecca Arena. The winner of the quarterfinal match will play the top-seeded and nationally-ranked no.14 Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday. Both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed on BEDN on Flo Sports.
With the field expanding to six, the Red Storm will need three consecutive wins across four days to win the title and earn an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The last time St. John's won the BIG EAST Tournament was in 2019 when the field was only four teams and the squad pulled off back-to-back upsets as the four seed.
Much of this season's success can be attributed to the Red Storm's high powered offense. The Red Storm ranks in the top 20 in the country for both kills and assists. Outstanding hitters, Rachele Rastelli and Giorgia Walther, have anchored the Red Storm offensive attack this season. The powerful duo ranks in the top 50 for total kills and points nationally. The pair also ranks in the top four in both categories in the conference. Alongside the hitters, setter Wiktoria Kowalczyk is 13th in the country and tops the BIG EAST with 1,220 total assists.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Johnnies have become one of the best blocking teams in the nation. The Red Storm is second in the conference with 2.36 blocks per set, and is 31st in the country with 276.5 total blocks this season. Freshman Magda Stambrowska has led this effort and has worked her way to being one of the best freshman blockers in the nation. Among freshman, she ranks 13th in the country with 109.0 total blocks. The team has also allowed a conference-low 10.91 digs per set.
The Connecticut Huskies were in control of its tournament seeding during the conference's last match of the season on Sunday. After Xavier suffered a loss the night before to DePaul, all the Huskies needed was a win against Butler to become the third seed. Butler tied the match at 2-2 and won in a marathon fifth set, 24-22 to give UConn the fifth seed.
UConn earned one selection to the All-BIG EAST Team, senior Caylee Parker. Parker finished fifth in the conference in kills (3.46) and points (4.05).
Jasmine Davis is the only other Husky to rank in the top 10 in two BIG EAST categories. The senior is fifth in service aces (.37) and ninth in points (3.56). Setter Madi Whitmire ranks fourth in the league with 10.06 assists.
As a team, the Huskies are fourth in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, kills and assists. UConn is also third in blocks as well.
Against the field of six teams, the Huskies are 3-6 including two wins against third-seeded Xavier.
The two teams are meeting in the BIG EAST Tournament for the second time. In 2007, St. John's swept UConn before eventually winning the championship. Overall in the series,
Connecticut leads St. John's 17-12. The Red Storm won the match earlier in the season in Carnesecca Arena in five sets after the Johnnies won a marathon first set, 34-32.
The winner of the first round match, will take on top-seeded No.14 Marquette.
No. 14 Marquette swept then-no.12 Creighton in a thrilling match on Saturday night at home. The Golden Eagles handed Creighton its first conference loss of the season, and swiped the number one seed from them.
Marquette swept the weekly awards following the sweep with Yadhaira Anchante, Carly Skrabek, and Hattie Bray taking home the three major honors.
The Golden Eagles were also well represented on the Season BIG EAST Awards. Anchante was awarded the BIG EAST Setter of the Year as well as a nod to the All-BIG EAST Team. Anchante finished second in the league with 10.84 assists per set. In total, Marquette earned five All-BIG EAST selections, two unanimous and two All-Freshman selections, one unanimous. Hattie Bray earned a selection to both teams after hitting .350 in her first season with the Golden Eagles.
Marquette has been nearly flawless this season with its only blemish in conference to Creighton in their first meeting.
The Golden Eagles feature a multi-faceted offensive attack with at least one individual in the top 10 of each of the seven statistical categories. Carsen Murray has been a standout all season, leading the conference in hitting (.427) and ranking second in blocks (1.10).
Marquette holds a 2-1 advantage over the Red Storm in the BIG EAST Tournament, and 23-6 overall. Marquette was victorious with two sweeps in the regular season.
Finishing the regular season with sweeps of Villanova and Georgetown, the Red Storm earned the fourth seed in the tournament. The first round opponent for the Johnnies is fifth-seeded UConn. The two squads only met once in the regular season which resulted in a 3-2 victory for the Red Storm in Carnesecca Arena. The winner of the quarterfinal match will play the top-seeded and nationally-ranked no.14 Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday. Both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed on BEDN on Flo Sports.
With the field expanding to six, the Red Storm will need three consecutive wins across four days to win the title and earn an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The last time St. John's won the BIG EAST Tournament was in 2019 when the field was only four teams and the squad pulled off back-to-back upsets as the four seed.
Much of this season's success can be attributed to the Red Storm's high powered offense. The Red Storm ranks in the top 20 in the country for both kills and assists. Outstanding hitters, Rachele Rastelli and Giorgia Walther, have anchored the Red Storm offensive attack this season. The powerful duo ranks in the top 50 for total kills and points nationally. The pair also ranks in the top four in both categories in the conference. Alongside the hitters, setter Wiktoria Kowalczyk is 13th in the country and tops the BIG EAST with 1,220 total assists.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Johnnies have become one of the best blocking teams in the nation. The Red Storm is second in the conference with 2.36 blocks per set, and is 31st in the country with 276.5 total blocks this season. Freshman Magda Stambrowska has led this effort and has worked her way to being one of the best freshman blockers in the nation. Among freshman, she ranks 13th in the country with 109.0 total blocks. The team has also allowed a conference-low 10.91 digs per set.
The Connecticut Huskies were in control of its tournament seeding during the conference's last match of the season on Sunday. After Xavier suffered a loss the night before to DePaul, all the Huskies needed was a win against Butler to become the third seed. Butler tied the match at 2-2 and won in a marathon fifth set, 24-22 to give UConn the fifth seed.
UConn earned one selection to the All-BIG EAST Team, senior Caylee Parker. Parker finished fifth in the conference in kills (3.46) and points (4.05).
Jasmine Davis is the only other Husky to rank in the top 10 in two BIG EAST categories. The senior is fifth in service aces (.37) and ninth in points (3.56). Setter Madi Whitmire ranks fourth in the league with 10.06 assists.
As a team, the Huskies are fourth in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, kills and assists. UConn is also third in blocks as well.
Against the field of six teams, the Huskies are 3-6 including two wins against third-seeded Xavier.
The two teams are meeting in the BIG EAST Tournament for the second time. In 2007, St. John's swept UConn before eventually winning the championship. Overall in the series,
Connecticut leads St. John's 17-12. The Red Storm won the match earlier in the season in Carnesecca Arena in five sets after the Johnnies won a marathon first set, 34-32.
The winner of the first round match, will take on top-seeded No.14 Marquette.
No. 14 Marquette swept then-no.12 Creighton in a thrilling match on Saturday night at home. The Golden Eagles handed Creighton its first conference loss of the season, and swiped the number one seed from them.
Marquette swept the weekly awards following the sweep with Yadhaira Anchante, Carly Skrabek, and Hattie Bray taking home the three major honors.
The Golden Eagles were also well represented on the Season BIG EAST Awards. Anchante was awarded the BIG EAST Setter of the Year as well as a nod to the All-BIG EAST Team. Anchante finished second in the league with 10.84 assists per set. In total, Marquette earned five All-BIG EAST selections, two unanimous and two All-Freshman selections, one unanimous. Hattie Bray earned a selection to both teams after hitting .350 in her first season with the Golden Eagles.
Marquette has been nearly flawless this season with its only blemish in conference to Creighton in their first meeting.
The Golden Eagles feature a multi-faceted offensive attack with at least one individual in the top 10 of each of the seven statistical categories. Carsen Murray has been a standout all season, leading the conference in hitting (.427) and ranking second in blocks (1.10).
Marquette holds a 2-1 advantage over the Red Storm in the BIG EAST Tournament, and 23-6 overall. Marquette was victorious with two sweeps in the regular season.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
RH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballSt. John's Women's Volleyball vs Delaware State Highlights 9.13.2025
Saturday, September 13
Volleyball vs Marist Highlights 9.12.2025
Friday, September 12
Postgame Press Conference St. John's Volleyball vs Bowling Green 12.13
Saturday, December 14
Postgame Press Conference St. John's Volleyball vs UCONN 12.12
Thursday, December 12