Volleyball Falls to Auburn in Second Match of Cardinal Classic, 3-1

Sunday, August 31

Louisville, Ky. (L&N Federal Credit Union Arena)

12 p.m.

St. John's University

0-2,0-0Big East

Auburn

2-1,0-0SEC

Auburn

St. John's (NY)

Volleyball Falls to Auburn in Second Match of Cardinal Classic, 3-1

8/31/2025 2:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Junior Rashanny Solano Smith collects 1,000th career dig

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The St. John's volleyball program lost 3-1 to Auburn on Sunday afternoon at the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena for the second game of the Cardinal Classic. Junior libero Rashanny Solano Smith recorded her 1,000^th career dig during the match, becoming the 11^th player in program history to achieve the feat.

After winning the first set, the Red Storm (0-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) fell in the following three sets to the Tigers (2-1, 0-0 SEC). The set scores were, 25-21, 25-17, 25-13 and 25-21.

"She's earned every bit of it—dedicating her summers to her national team and growing up coached by her parents and auntie. Her passion shows every day," said Head Coach Joanne Persico said as she congratulated her libero.

St. John's recorded four of its five aces in the first set of play and hit .201 as a team throughout the match.

Three Johnnies- Erin Jones, Ana Franca Benjamim and Martina Ghezzi led the team with 12 kills apiece. Jones notched her first double-double of the season with 21 assists, and Martina Capponcelli also chipped in 21 assists. Ghezzi and Solano-Smith each amassed 14 digs, as Ghezzi record her first double-double of the 2025 season.

Benjamim opened the match with a service ace to the back right corner in between two Auburn defenders. The Red Storm were able to build an early lead thanks to Auburn miscues at the service line, by a score of 6-5. Both teams went point for point in the early stages of the match, but the home team's lead grew forcing Auburn to take a timeout at 17-13. The timeout halted the Johnnie run as their led was cut to one, 18-17. As another back-and-forth ensued, a Jones kill put St. John's on top for good and went on to take the first set of the match, 25-21.

Auburn came out flying in the second frame holding a 4-1. St. John's found their footing and were able to tie match, 6-6. Despite an unsuccessful coaches' challenge from Auburn head coach Brent Crouch, the Tigers built a four-point lead 12-8. A series of visitor aces saw the lead bubble to seven. A 6-2 Johnnies run fueled by Ghezzi forced Crouch to take his first timeout of the set at 21-15. Auburn took advantage of the home teams attack errors and took set two 25-17.

To start the third stanza, Auburn rattled off three quick points as the Johnnies took their first timeout. Jones put the home team on the board as she fired a ball between the Tiger blockers. However, the Orange and Blue continued to increase their lead to 10-4. An 8-1 run for Auburn put their lead over 10 points. The two teams went point-for-point to end the set, 25-13 in favor of the visitors.

At the beginning of the fourth set, the two teams traded points and caused a 5-5 deadlock. Auburn used a 4-1 run to force a timeout by the home team. The Red Storm were able to scrap a few points back to cut the lead down to two, but another 4-1 run from the visitors caused Persico to take her final timeout of the set. As another back-and-forth materialized, the Red Storm attempted to fight their way back into the match by cutting the deficit to 22-19 and ultimately forced the Tigers to take its first timeout of the set. A Ghezzi service error triggered an Auburn match point. St. John's was able to fight off match point once before falling 25-21.

The Red Storm will play their final match in Derby City tomorrow against the hosts, No. 4 Louisville on ESPN+. First serve against the Cardinals is set for 3 p.m. ET inside the L&N Federal Credit Union Arena.