St. John's University Athletics
Friday, September 4
Queens, N.Y.
1 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Rider
St. John’s Readies for Lou Carnesecca Invitational
9/3/2026 3:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Live Stats vs. RiderLive Stats vs. UABLive Stats vs. East Texas A&MWatch vs. Rider (ESPN+)Watch vs. UAB (ESPN+)Watch vs. East Texas A&M (ESPN+)Match Notes 4-62026 VB Record Book
Red Storm is set to host Rider, UAB and East Texas A&M this weekend
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's volleyball team is set to host the inaugural Lou Carnesecca Invitational this weekend from Sept. 4-5. The Johnnies will play Rider on Friday at 1p.m. for Employee Appreciation Day. Later that evening, the Red Storm will take on UAB at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend against East Texas A&M at 1 p.m.
All St. John's matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at RedStormSports.com. All non-St. John's matches will be streamed to SJU-TV on YouTube.
St. John's Volleyball and Head Coach Joanne Persico announced earlier this year that the Red Storm Invitational will be renamed the Lou Carnesecca Invitational in honor of the legendary St. John's men's basketball coach and longtime supporter of the St. John's volleyball program.
The Red Storm is coming off a 2-1 weekend to start the 2026 season, picking up wins over Elon and USC Upstate at the Quest for the Crown in Norfolk, Va. St. John's nearly came away with a weekend sweep, but fell in five set to ODU. There was no shortage of offense, as the Red Storm fired at least 57 kills in all three contests.
Outside hitter Carola Tesoro was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for her performances this past weekend. Tesoro currently leads the BIG EAST in kills with 66, averaging 5.08 per set. The Milan, Italy, native added 33 digs to her stat line while playing in all 13 sets. Tesoro turned in a pair of double-doubles during a 2-1 opening weekend for the Red Storm, becoming the first Johnnie to earn Freshman of the Week since Rashanny Solano Smith garnered the honor twice during the 2023 season. Both Solano Smith and Tesoro, were named Quest for the Crown MVPs of the Match in the wins over Elon and USC Upstate, respectively.
St. John's the started the year off by turning in one of the most well-balanced attacking performances in nearly five seasons, as four Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills for the first time since Sept. 16, 2022 during the team's season-opening match against Elon. St. John's tallied 58 kills over the four-set match. It marked the highest kill total for St. John's in a season opener since the team recorded 64 kills in a 3-1 win over California Baptist on Aug. 26, 2022.
Rider comes to Queens with a 1-1 recording following the first weekend of play. The Broncs took a trip to the City of Brotherly Love and played in the Cherry and White Invitational at Temple. The squad claimed a 3-2 win over Fordham on Friday but stumbled against hosts Temple on Sunday, falling in straight sets. The Broncs are led by Second Team All-MAAC selection Makenna Mason. The setter paced the offense with 1,031 assist a season ago, adding 145 digs and 39.0 total blocks. The Preseason All-Metro pick dished out 43 assists last weekend, averaging 5.38 per set.
UAB enters the weekend with a 2-1 record after spending their opening weekend at the Chattanooga Classic. This is the first time that St. John's and UAB will square off against each other. After falling in five sets to Valparaiso on Friday evening, the Blazers bounced back with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee State and a 3-1 win over Chattanooga. Through the first three matches, Kennedy Vaugh and Mia Reese are pacing the team with 38 kills each.
East Texas A&M will venture over 1,500 miles to the Big Apple this weekend, carrying a 2-1 record with it. This is the first time that St. John's and East Texas A&M will play each other, not only in volleyball, but in any sport. The Lions started the 2026 slate by hosting the Lion Invitational, picking up wins over Texas Southern and ULM, but falling to Southern Illinois.
Ariana Brown was selected to the Lion Invitational All-Tournament team. Brown and teammate Jade Washington each picked up Player of the Week nods from the Southland Conference. Brown finished the weekend with 44 kills, 3.0 total blocks and two service aces en route to offensive player of the week honors, while Washington was tabbed as the defensive player of the week after racking up 58 digs and three service aces.
Following this weekend, St. John's will take a trip to Fordham for a midweek tilt against former Associate Head Coach Bryan Weber and the Rams. First serve at the Rose Hill Gym is set for 7 p.m.
All St. John's matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at RedStormSports.com. All non-St. John's matches will be streamed to SJU-TV on YouTube.
St. John's Volleyball and Head Coach Joanne Persico announced earlier this year that the Red Storm Invitational will be renamed the Lou Carnesecca Invitational in honor of the legendary St. John's men's basketball coach and longtime supporter of the St. John's volleyball program.
The Red Storm is coming off a 2-1 weekend to start the 2026 season, picking up wins over Elon and USC Upstate at the Quest for the Crown in Norfolk, Va. St. John's nearly came away with a weekend sweep, but fell in five set to ODU. There was no shortage of offense, as the Red Storm fired at least 57 kills in all three contests.
Outside hitter Carola Tesoro was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week for her performances this past weekend. Tesoro currently leads the BIG EAST in kills with 66, averaging 5.08 per set. The Milan, Italy, native added 33 digs to her stat line while playing in all 13 sets. Tesoro turned in a pair of double-doubles during a 2-1 opening weekend for the Red Storm, becoming the first Johnnie to earn Freshman of the Week since Rashanny Solano Smith garnered the honor twice during the 2023 season. Both Solano Smith and Tesoro, were named Quest for the Crown MVPs of the Match in the wins over Elon and USC Upstate, respectively.
St. John's the started the year off by turning in one of the most well-balanced attacking performances in nearly five seasons, as four Johnnies recorded 10 or more kills for the first time since Sept. 16, 2022 during the team's season-opening match against Elon. St. John's tallied 58 kills over the four-set match. It marked the highest kill total for St. John's in a season opener since the team recorded 64 kills in a 3-1 win over California Baptist on Aug. 26, 2022.
Rider comes to Queens with a 1-1 recording following the first weekend of play. The Broncs took a trip to the City of Brotherly Love and played in the Cherry and White Invitational at Temple. The squad claimed a 3-2 win over Fordham on Friday but stumbled against hosts Temple on Sunday, falling in straight sets. The Broncs are led by Second Team All-MAAC selection Makenna Mason. The setter paced the offense with 1,031 assist a season ago, adding 145 digs and 39.0 total blocks. The Preseason All-Metro pick dished out 43 assists last weekend, averaging 5.38 per set.
UAB enters the weekend with a 2-1 record after spending their opening weekend at the Chattanooga Classic. This is the first time that St. John's and UAB will square off against each other. After falling in five sets to Valparaiso on Friday evening, the Blazers bounced back with a 3-0 sweep of Tennessee State and a 3-1 win over Chattanooga. Through the first three matches, Kennedy Vaugh and Mia Reese are pacing the team with 38 kills each.
East Texas A&M will venture over 1,500 miles to the Big Apple this weekend, carrying a 2-1 record with it. This is the first time that St. John's and East Texas A&M will play each other, not only in volleyball, but in any sport. The Lions started the 2026 slate by hosting the Lion Invitational, picking up wins over Texas Southern and ULM, but falling to Southern Illinois.
Ariana Brown was selected to the Lion Invitational All-Tournament team. Brown and teammate Jade Washington each picked up Player of the Week nods from the Southland Conference. Brown finished the weekend with 44 kills, 3.0 total blocks and two service aces en route to offensive player of the week honors, while Washington was tabbed as the defensive player of the week after racking up 58 digs and three service aces.
Following this weekend, St. John's will take a trip to Fordham for a midweek tilt against former Associate Head Coach Bryan Weber and the Rams. First serve at the Rose Hill Gym is set for 7 p.m.
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