Volleyball Tackles Central Connecticut to Open Iona Invitational, 3-0

Friday, September 11

New Rochelle, N.Y.

5 p.m.

St. John's University

6-2,0-0Big East

Central Connecticut State

1-6,0-0NEC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
St. John's (NY)	25	25	25	3
Central Conn. St.	21	19	23	0

The St. John’s volleyball team continued the Lou Carnesecca Invitational with a hard-earned 3-1 win over UAB on Friday night. Behind a rowdy Carnesecca crowd, the Red Storm (4-1) strung together runs when it needed them most and kept the Blazers (2-3) at bay. The set scores were 25-23, 25-14, 19-25 and 25-20.

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

Volleyball Tackles Central Connecticut to Open Iona Invitational, 3-0

9/11/2026 6:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Red Storm recorded 12.5 total blocks, led by Stamenkovic’s 5.0 total rejections

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The St. John's volleyball team began the Iona Invitational with a sweep of Central Connecticut in the Hynes Athletic Center on Friday evening.

The Red Storm (6-2) fell behind in the third set but powered past the Blue Devils (1-6) to prevail. The set scores were 25-21, 25-19 and 25-23.

St. John's notched 12.5 total blocks as a team. The mark is the most since the squad rejected 13.0 total shots at Butler on Nov. 17, 2024. Freshman Teodora Stamenkovic was a force to be reckoned with at the net, sending back 5.0 total shots to lead all players. As a team, the Johnnies fired 40 kills and swung .297.

Carola Tesoro led all players with a match-high 13 kills. Amanda Caputi dished out 19 assists. Rashanny Solano Smith recorded a match-high in digs, finishing with 17.

The opening set saw St. John's take an early 5-1 advantage. Central Connecticut eventually clawed its way back to come within one at 8-7. The Red Storm was able to build up a three-point cushion to the media timeout at 15-12. The Johnnies fended off a late Blue Devil comeback to take the set, 25-21.

Frame two kicked off with a 6-2 St. John's rally, but once again CCSU slowly crept back into the set at 10-8. The Red Storm settled back into its rhythm and used a 7-2 swing to pull away. Head Coach Joanne Persico's successful coaches challenge ended the frame at 25-19, giving St. John's a 2-0 match lead.

The Blue Devils came out hot to begin the third game, claiming a 13-5 lead. A 5-2 burst by St. John's cut the lead to five at 15-10. The Red Storm continued to push as both teams neared the red zone, and a series of rejections tied the game at 21-21. In the end, St. John's pulled out a 25-23 set win and a 3-0 match victory.

The Johnnies will continue action at the Iona Invitational tomorrow in a twin bill against NJIT and Iona. First serve times from New Rochelle are 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.