St. John’s Volleyball Outlasts Providence in Friday Night Battle, 3-1

Friday, October 3

Providence, R.I. (Alumni Hall)

5 p.m.

St. John's University

5-11,1-2Big East

Providence

9-7,0-3Big East

St. John's (NY)

Providence

St. John's volleyball secures win over Delaware State., 3-1

St. John’s Volleyball Outlasts Providence in Friday Night Battle, 3-1

10/3/2025 9:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Providence Box Score

Erin Jones sets a new career-high 28 kills, notches fifth triple-double of the season

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 3, 2025) – The St. John's volleyball team (4-11, 1-2 BIG EAST) picked up its first BIG EAST win over Providence (9-7, 0-3 BIG EAST) at Alumni Hall on Friday evening, 3-1. In a highly contested match, neither team won a set by more than a four-point margin. The scores of sets were 24-26, 29-27, 25-21 and 25-22.

The two side went back-and-forth as the match featured 37 ties and 18 lead changes. Erin Jones helped guide the Johnnies with her career-high 28 kills. The senior added 14 assists and 16 digs, padding her BIG EAST lead in triple-doubles with five.

The last time a St. John's player recorded more than 28 kills was on Oct. 29, 2021, when Rachele Rastelli fired 35 kills in a 3-2 victory over Georgetown for the Red Storm.

"That was an amazing BIG EAST road victory for this group. [Erin] Jones and Rashanny Solano Smith led the team in high pressure moments, and Ella Parker came to play tonight," said Head Coach Joanne Persico. "They made huge plays against a scrappy and well-coached Providence squad."

Jones' 28 kills was a match high, as was Martina Capponcelli's 23 assists. Solano Smith notched a team-high 21 digs, one shy off her season-high of 22. Capponcelli added a career-high 15 digs to notch her first career double-double.

The Red Storm captured the first two points of the set, but Friars quickly recovered and took the lead at 4-2. Providence would maintain the advantage throughout the early going. In the middle portion of the set, the Johnnies were able to tie the match at 15-15 and then took the lead off a Jones kill. The Red Storm lead was eventually erased at 24-24, as the Friars rattled off three straight points to take the first set, 26-24.

The second frame started identically to the first with the visitors grabbing the opening two points and the Friars rallying to take the lead at 11-6. The Red Storm would erase the deficit at 12-12 and a back-and-forth would ensue as neither team would allow for a lead. Providence would be the first to set point, but the Johnnies quickly responded to tie the frame at 24-24 and forcing extra points for the second straight set. Parker would fire two kills and give St. John's and a Capponcelli service ace sealed the deal for the Red Storm, 29-27.

Entering the third stanza the trading of points continued, featuring 10 tied scores. St. John's was able to pull away following Jones 19^th kill and blocks from Ludovica Zola, Kya Harris and Parker, 17-15. Providence responded with an ace, forcing a 19-19 deadlock. A Martina Ghezzi kill gave another two point advantage to the visitors, a lead they wouldn't relinquish to take the third frame, 25-21.

In the fourth, the Red Storm erased a five-point deficit and tied the set at 20-all. Ana Franca Benjamim gave the visitors the lead with a kill, and a successful challenge by Persico set up match point. Parker finished the night with the clinching kill, 25-22.

St. John's will travel to Storrs, Conn., tomorrow for a match with UConn. First serve in the UConn Volleyball Center is set for 4 p.m.