St. John’s Outlasts Villanova, 3-2

Wednesday, October 23

Queens, N.Y. (Carnesecca Arena)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

15-8,4-5Big East

Villanova

12-8,5-4Big East

Villanova

St. John's (NY)

10/23/2024 10:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

Lucrezia Lodi logged a match-high 24 kills

QUEENS, N.Y. (Oct. 23, 2024) – The St. John's volleyball team outlasted Villanova, 3-2, behind a 24-kill effort from Lucrezia Lodi inside Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday night.

After St. John's (15-8, 4-5 BIG EAST) won the first two frames, Villanova (12-8, 5-4 BIG EAST) claimed the following two, but the Johnnies rebounded and took the decisive fifth stanza. The scores of the sets were 25-18, 25-23, 19-25, 20-25 and 15-11.

"What a gutsy and hard-fought BIG EAST battle inside Carnesecca Arena tonight in front of our amazing fans," said Head Coach Joanne Persico. "We persevered in a critical conference match and we made crucial plays when crucial points were needed."

Lodi led the match with 24 kills, matching her career-high on a 23.4 percent hitting clip with six digs, two blocks and two aces. Giorgia Walther packed on 17 kills at a 27.3 percent rate and three blocks against the Wildcats.

Erin Jones notched her 10^th double-double of the season on Wednesday night. The junior registered 17 assists, 13 digs and six kills inside Carnesecca Arena. Magda Stambrowska secured nine kills and four blocks.

Wiktoria Kowalczyk posted her third double-double of the 2024 campaign on match-best 32 helpers and 11 digs. Rashanny Solano Smith paced the contest with 16 digs paired with eight assists.

Ludovica Zola led the Red Storm in blocks, producing five total, including two solo rejections. Sujeili Mermella added a career-high two aces.

As a team, the Johnnies led the match with 63 kills, 62 digs, 59 assists and six service aces.

St. John's jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the opening set, capitalizing on four kills from Lodi. Villanova answered right back with a 6-2 rally that cut its deficit down to two, 12-10, and forced a Red Storm timeout. The two squads went back and forth midway through the set until the Johnnies put down five consecutive points to go ahead, 20-14. Despite contested play down the stretch, St. John's was able to win the first frame, 25-18. Lodi slammed seven kills at a 77.8 hitting percentage in the first game.

The second set kicked off to a 14-14 tie as both teams continuously traded side-outs. The Wildcats produced a 3-1 spurt to lead, 17-15, but St. John's countered, using a 4-0 stretch to hold a two-point, 19-17 advantage. After Villanova retied the frame at 19, the squads exchanged blows to a Red Storm set point, 24-23, leading to a Wildcat timeout. Lodi capped off the second set with a solo block, taking the stanza, 25-23. The barnburner second game consisted of 15 ties and 10 lead changes.

Villanova opened the third set with a 9-3 lead, benefiting from a collection of kills and blocks. Down 12-6, the Johnnies poured on four straight scores on two kills from Lodi with a block and kill from Jones to trail by two, 12-10. Villanova brought its advantage back up to five, 17-12, and held it en route to a 25-19 victory in the third game. Lodi tallied another six kills in the frame.

The Red Storm began the fourth set with an 8-3 advantage behind four straight points served by Lodi, prompting a Wildcat timeout. Villanova answered quickly, amassing a 14-6 run for a slim three-point edge, 17-14, midway through the frame. Leading 21-17, the Wildcats used a decisive 4-3 stretch to claim the fourth frame, 25-20, and even the match at two sets apiece.

The Johnnies claimed a 5-3 lead early in the last period, but a quick two points from Villanova evened the set at 5-5. Knotted at 9-9, St. John's put together a final 6-2 run, closing out the set and the match 15-11, on a Walther kill. Lodi pounded four kills in the final stanza.

St. John's will remain in Queens for a matchup with Butler on Friday night. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at Carnesecca Arena.