St. John's University Athletics
Friday, August 28
Norfolk, Va.
1 p.m.
St. John's University
1-0,0-0Big East
3
vs
1
Elon
0-1,0-0CAA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elon | 25 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 1 |
| St. John's (NY) | 22 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Opens 2026 with 3-1 Win Over Elon at the Quest for the Crown
8/28/2026 5:22:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Four Johnnies record 10 or more kills for the first time since 2022
NORFOLK, Va. – The St. John's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a 3-1 victory over Elon at the Quest for the Crown on Friday afternoon.
In one of the most well-balanced attacking performances in nearly five seasons, four Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills during the season-opening match. The set scores were 22-25, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-19.
As a team, St. John's fired 58 kills over the four-set match. It marks the highest kill total in a season opener since the team recorded 64 kills in a 3-1 win over California Baptist on Aug. 26, 2022. Freshman Carola Tesoro led the offense with 17 kills. Sophomores Chloe Bell and Kendall White notched 12 kills apiece, and junior Lejla Hadziredzepovic fired 11.
The last time a quartet of Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills was during a 3-2 win over Columbia on Sept. 16, 2022. Rachelle Rastelli led the Red Storm that day with 20 kills, followed by Giorgia Walther with 15, Elenora Tosi with 13 and Lucrezia Lodi rounded out the group with 10 kills.
Amanda Caputi quarterbacked the offense with 26 assists, and match MVP Rashanny Solano Smith recorded a match-high 24 digs. Freshman Teodora Stamenkovic anchored the net with 3.0 total blocks.
The opening set of the year saw St. John's and Elon trade points all the way to 11-11, but it was the Phoenix who took the first lead at the media timeout, bringing the score to 15-12. St. John's closed the gap and came within one point at 19-18. After trading points in the latter portion of the set, the Red Storm fought back and, trailing by one, forced
Elon to take its first timeout at 23-22. The Phoenix held their lead to take the first set, 25-22.
Set two began similarly to the opening frame, with both teams exchanging points to 10-10. After a short 3-0 run capped with a Tesoro service ace, Elon took a timeout at 13-10. An ensuing 5-2 run by the Johnnies caused the Phoenix to take its final timeout of the frame at 20-14. St. John's would go on to close out the set at 25-19 and level the match at one game apiece.
In the early going of frame three, both squads traded points to 8-8. Elon used a 6-0 run to burn both of St. John's timeouts and bring the score to 14-8. A 7-3 run by the Johnnies was capped off with a pair of service aces by Martina Capponcelli to make it 17-15 and force an Elon timeout. Bell's 10th kill of the match brought the Johnnies to within one point at 18-17, and Soheila Cirelli leveled the score at 18-18 to bring St. John's back into the game. Both squads exchanged haymakers to 22-22, and when Solano
Smith stepped to the service line, she never left as the Johnnies took the frame, 25-23, and a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set began like the previous three, as St. John's and Elon were deadlocked at 8-8. After the Phoenix took a brief lead at 11-9, the Johnnies stormed back with a dominant 10-1 run to bring the score to 19-12. The Red Storm cruised the rest of the way enroute to a 25-19 set four victory and a 3-1 match win.
St. John's returns to the court later tonight and will take on tournament host Old Dominion. First serve against the Monarchs is set for 7 p.m.
In one of the most well-balanced attacking performances in nearly five seasons, four Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills during the season-opening match. The set scores were 22-25, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-19.
As a team, St. John's fired 58 kills over the four-set match. It marks the highest kill total in a season opener since the team recorded 64 kills in a 3-1 win over California Baptist on Aug. 26, 2022. Freshman Carola Tesoro led the offense with 17 kills. Sophomores Chloe Bell and Kendall White notched 12 kills apiece, and junior Lejla Hadziredzepovic fired 11.
The last time a quartet of Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills was during a 3-2 win over Columbia on Sept. 16, 2022. Rachelle Rastelli led the Red Storm that day with 20 kills, followed by Giorgia Walther with 15, Elenora Tosi with 13 and Lucrezia Lodi rounded out the group with 10 kills.
Amanda Caputi quarterbacked the offense with 26 assists, and match MVP Rashanny Solano Smith recorded a match-high 24 digs. Freshman Teodora Stamenkovic anchored the net with 3.0 total blocks.
The opening set of the year saw St. John's and Elon trade points all the way to 11-11, but it was the Phoenix who took the first lead at the media timeout, bringing the score to 15-12. St. John's closed the gap and came within one point at 19-18. After trading points in the latter portion of the set, the Red Storm fought back and, trailing by one, forced
Elon to take its first timeout at 23-22. The Phoenix held their lead to take the first set, 25-22.
Set two began similarly to the opening frame, with both teams exchanging points to 10-10. After a short 3-0 run capped with a Tesoro service ace, Elon took a timeout at 13-10. An ensuing 5-2 run by the Johnnies caused the Phoenix to take its final timeout of the frame at 20-14. St. John's would go on to close out the set at 25-19 and level the match at one game apiece.
In the early going of frame three, both squads traded points to 8-8. Elon used a 6-0 run to burn both of St. John's timeouts and bring the score to 14-8. A 7-3 run by the Johnnies was capped off with a pair of service aces by Martina Capponcelli to make it 17-15 and force an Elon timeout. Bell's 10th kill of the match brought the Johnnies to within one point at 18-17, and Soheila Cirelli leveled the score at 18-18 to bring St. John's back into the game. Both squads exchanged haymakers to 22-22, and when Solano
Smith stepped to the service line, she never left as the Johnnies took the frame, 25-23, and a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set began like the previous three, as St. John's and Elon were deadlocked at 8-8. After the Phoenix took a brief lead at 11-9, the Johnnies stormed back with a dominant 10-1 run to bring the score to 19-12. The Red Storm cruised the rest of the way enroute to a 25-19 set four victory and a 3-1 match win.
St. John's returns to the court later tonight and will take on tournament host Old Dominion. First serve against the Monarchs is set for 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Elon
SJU
Kills
51
58
Errors
22
27
Attempts
135
142
Hitting %
.215
.218
Points
64.0
74.0
Assists
51
54
Aces
3
7
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
0
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