St. John's University Athletics
Rashanny Solano Smith Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
9/7/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Senior libero set a career-high 35 digs against East Texas A&M
NEW YORK – Following a superb weekend, St. John's volleyball standout Rashanny Solano Smith was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
This is the second consecutive week that St. John's has claimed a major weekly award, following rookie Carola Tesoro's freshman of the week nod on Aug. 31.
With this week's selection, Solano Smith has now garnered a pair of defensive player of the week awards. This is the senior's fourth overall major weekly award, adding to her two freshman of the week selections during the 2023 season.
The defensive maestro tallied 76 digs, 14 assists and four service aces in 11 sets of play and was named to the Lou Carnesecca Invitational All-Tournament Team. Through the first two weekends, she leads the BIG EAST in digs with a 131, averaging 5.46 per set.
The highlight of the weekend was a career-high 35-dig performance against East Texas A&M. Solano Smith became the first Johnnie to record 30 or more digs in a match since Amanda Sanabia notched 34 digs during a 3-2 win at Xavier on Oct. 27, 2018.
Against UAB, the senior logged 28 digs while dishing out six assists and serving a pair of aces during the 3-1 victory over the Blazers.
Solano Smith and the Red Storm are in action tomorrow for a midweek tilt at Fordham. This is the first time that Head Coach Joanne Persico will face off against her former Associate Head Coach Bryan Weber as the skipper of the Rams. First serve in Rose Hill Gym is set for 7 p.m.
This is the second consecutive week that St. John's has claimed a major weekly award, following rookie Carola Tesoro's freshman of the week nod on Aug. 31.
With this week's selection, Solano Smith has now garnered a pair of defensive player of the week awards. This is the senior's fourth overall major weekly award, adding to her two freshman of the week selections during the 2023 season.
The defensive maestro tallied 76 digs, 14 assists and four service aces in 11 sets of play and was named to the Lou Carnesecca Invitational All-Tournament Team. Through the first two weekends, she leads the BIG EAST in digs with a 131, averaging 5.46 per set.
The highlight of the weekend was a career-high 35-dig performance against East Texas A&M. Solano Smith became the first Johnnie to record 30 or more digs in a match since Amanda Sanabia notched 34 digs during a 3-2 win at Xavier on Oct. 27, 2018.
Against UAB, the senior logged 28 digs while dishing out six assists and serving a pair of aces during the 3-1 victory over the Blazers.
Solano Smith and the Red Storm are in action tomorrow for a midweek tilt at Fordham. This is the first time that Head Coach Joanne Persico will face off against her former Associate Head Coach Bryan Weber as the skipper of the Rams. First serve in Rose Hill Gym is set for 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballFriday, September 04
Friday, September 04
Saturday, November 01
Friday, October 31