St. John's University Athletics
Friday, September 18
Queens, N.Y.
1 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Penn
St. John’s to Host 12th Annual Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic
9/17/2026 2:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Watch on STJ-TV (Penn and Bryant)Watch on ESPN+ (Rutgers)Live Stats vs. PennLive Stats vs. Bryant Live Stats vs. Rutgers Match Notes 11-13
Red Storm will play Penn, Bryant and Rutgers in Carnesecca Arena
QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John's Volleyball will start its seven-match homestand by hosting the 12th Annual Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic this weekend. The Johnnies will kick off the weekend on Friday with a twin bill against Penn at 1 p.m. and Bryant at 7 p.m. The team concludes the tournament against Rutgers on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Friday's matches will air on SJU-TV on YouTube, and Saturday's contest versus the Scarlet Knights will air on ESPN+. Live stats can be found at RedStormSports.com.
Friday marks the first time in 23 years that St. John's and Penn will play each other, as the Quakers hold a 2-1 advantage. St. John's holds a 7-0 overall record against the Bulldogs. It's been a while since the Red Storm and Scarlet Knights battled on the hardwood; the former BIG EAST foes will square off for the 21st time, with St. John's holding a 13-7 advantage.
Saturday's match against the Scarlet Knights will serve as a homecoming for Head Coach Caitlin Schweihofer, who returns to her alma mater where she captained the Red Storm to the 2006 BIG EAST Championship behind a 31-5 overall record and undefeated 14-0 mark in conference play.
The Red Storm ranked as high as No. 24 in the national polls and advanced to the NCAA Second Round after defeating UAlbany in the First Round in a 3-1 decision. Schweihofer, formerly Rimgaila, was named the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2006 for her excellence on the court and in the classroom.
The Red Storm is on a four-match win streak, dating back to last Tuesday's win over Fordham. All four decisions have resulted in a sweep in favor of the Johnnies. St. John's ran past the field at the Iona Invitational. The tournament started with a 3-0 win over Central Connecticut last Friday and followed with a pair against NJIT and Iona on Saturday.
Carola Tesoro was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, playing a large role in the Johnnies' 4-0 week. Tesoro becomes the first freshman in program history to be named Offensive Player of the Week since the award was introduced in 2017.
The outside hitter delivered 52 kills in 11 sets of work (4.72 kills per set) and added 28 digs, a pair of service aces and a block. Her week was highlighted by a 21-kill, 11-dig double-double in a sweep of Iona to cap the Iona Invitational. She swung .645 for the best hitting percentage of the season by a Johnnie this season. Her 21-kill total is the most by any player in the BIG EAST in a three-set match this year.
St. John's put together a perfect weekend at the Iona Invitational, sweeping all three of its matches against Central Connecticut, NJIT and Iona without dropping a set. Rashanny Solano Smith was named the Iona Invitational Most Valuable Player after a series of impressive outings in New Rochelle. In addition to Solano Smith, Chloe Bell and Maggie Carcillo were named to the Iona Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Through the first two weeks, St. John's leads the BIG EAST in kills per set (13.89) and assists per set (13.29). Tesoro leads the BIG EAST in kills with 155, while averaging 4.43 per set. Solano Smith also leads the BIG EAST in digs with 191, averaging 5.31 per set; both sit within the top 10 of the NCAA Division I volleyball ranks.
Penn enters the weekend with a 6-1 overall record. With the win over Rider on Wednesday, the Quakers earned their sixth consecutive win. Penn is led offensively by Jenna Garner with 87 kills, averaging 3.00 per set. Five other student-athletes have 55 or more kills on the season.
Bryant comes to Queens with a 5-8 record. The Bulldogs earned a 3-1 win over Manhattan on Wednesday night in Smithfield. The Bulldogs sit 16th in the country in service aces with 78. The offense runs through Kaitlin Curran and Hannah Jackson, who have 124 and 112 kills, respectively.
Rutgers boasts a 7-2 record entering the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. Last weekend, the Scarlet Knights picked up a trio of wins during its home tournament. The team earned a pair of sweeps of Stony Brook and Rider, and a 3-1 win over Delaware. Rutgers ranks 12th in Division I with 80 service aces as a team. The offense is led by Malia Romes with 94 kills, firing 2.76 per set.
Following this weekend, the Red Storm begins BIG EAST action in Queens against Seton Hall. First serve against the Pirates is set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Friday's matches will air on SJU-TV on YouTube, and Saturday's contest versus the Scarlet Knights will air on ESPN+. Live stats can be found at RedStormSports.com.
Friday marks the first time in 23 years that St. John's and Penn will play each other, as the Quakers hold a 2-1 advantage. St. John's holds a 7-0 overall record against the Bulldogs. It's been a while since the Red Storm and Scarlet Knights battled on the hardwood; the former BIG EAST foes will square off for the 21st time, with St. John's holding a 13-7 advantage.
Saturday's match against the Scarlet Knights will serve as a homecoming for Head Coach Caitlin Schweihofer, who returns to her alma mater where she captained the Red Storm to the 2006 BIG EAST Championship behind a 31-5 overall record and undefeated 14-0 mark in conference play.
The Red Storm ranked as high as No. 24 in the national polls and advanced to the NCAA Second Round after defeating UAlbany in the First Round in a 3-1 decision. Schweihofer, formerly Rimgaila, was named the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2006 for her excellence on the court and in the classroom.
The Red Storm is on a four-match win streak, dating back to last Tuesday's win over Fordham. All four decisions have resulted in a sweep in favor of the Johnnies. St. John's ran past the field at the Iona Invitational. The tournament started with a 3-0 win over Central Connecticut last Friday and followed with a pair against NJIT and Iona on Saturday.
Carola Tesoro was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, playing a large role in the Johnnies' 4-0 week. Tesoro becomes the first freshman in program history to be named Offensive Player of the Week since the award was introduced in 2017.
The outside hitter delivered 52 kills in 11 sets of work (4.72 kills per set) and added 28 digs, a pair of service aces and a block. Her week was highlighted by a 21-kill, 11-dig double-double in a sweep of Iona to cap the Iona Invitational. She swung .645 for the best hitting percentage of the season by a Johnnie this season. Her 21-kill total is the most by any player in the BIG EAST in a three-set match this year.
St. John's put together a perfect weekend at the Iona Invitational, sweeping all three of its matches against Central Connecticut, NJIT and Iona without dropping a set. Rashanny Solano Smith was named the Iona Invitational Most Valuable Player after a series of impressive outings in New Rochelle. In addition to Solano Smith, Chloe Bell and Maggie Carcillo were named to the Iona Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Through the first two weeks, St. John's leads the BIG EAST in kills per set (13.89) and assists per set (13.29). Tesoro leads the BIG EAST in kills with 155, while averaging 4.43 per set. Solano Smith also leads the BIG EAST in digs with 191, averaging 5.31 per set; both sit within the top 10 of the NCAA Division I volleyball ranks.
Penn enters the weekend with a 6-1 overall record. With the win over Rider on Wednesday, the Quakers earned their sixth consecutive win. Penn is led offensively by Jenna Garner with 87 kills, averaging 3.00 per set. Five other student-athletes have 55 or more kills on the season.
Bryant comes to Queens with a 5-8 record. The Bulldogs earned a 3-1 win over Manhattan on Wednesday night in Smithfield. The Bulldogs sit 16th in the country in service aces with 78. The offense runs through Kaitlin Curran and Hannah Jackson, who have 124 and 112 kills, respectively.
Rutgers boasts a 7-2 record entering the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. Last weekend, the Scarlet Knights picked up a trio of wins during its home tournament. The team earned a pair of sweeps of Stony Brook and Rider, and a 3-1 win over Delaware. Rutgers ranks 12th in Division I with 80 service aces as a team. The offense is led by Malia Romes with 94 kills, firing 2.76 per set.
Following this weekend, the Red Storm begins BIG EAST action in Queens against Seton Hall. First serve against the Pirates is set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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