Volleyball Begins Weekend with a Setback at Xavier, 3-1

CINCINNATI, Ohio– The St. John’s volleyball team (6-16, 2-7 BIG EAST) began its weekend road swing with a loss at Xavier (19-2, 8-1 BIG EAST) on Friday evening, 3-1. Senior Erin Jones notched her sixth triple-double of the season, posting 10 kills, 21 assists and 10 digs. The scores of the sets were 16-25, 25-23, 21-25 and 20-25. 

Martina Ghezzi led the Red Storm with 11 kills. Jones and Martina Capponcelli split setting duties once again, as Jones recorded a team-high 21 assists, while Capponcelli chipped in 19 helpers of her own. On the defensive side of Rashanny Solano Smith set a new season-high in digs, posting a match-high 24. 

Xavier jumped out at an early lead in the first set, going up by as many as six at 9-3. A pair of Chloe Bell kills helped kickstart a Johnnies 3-0 run and cutting into the lead, 9-6. The Musketeers continued to hold onto the lead throughout, eventually taking the set 25-16. 

The second frame saw St. John’s take a 5-3 lead off an Ella Parker kill, but Xavier quickly fended off a run to knot the frame at 7-7. After a timeout, the Red Storm capitalized on several Musketeer miscues and engineered a 7-0 swing to take the lead at 13-9. Xavier used a 7-0 run of its own to erase the deficit and extend the lead to three at 17-14. Both squads would exchange points entering the ladder part of the frame, Jones would fire a kill and give the Johnnies a two-point lead, 22-20. St John’s used a Ludovica Zola block to secure the second set, 25-23, and knot the match at one game apiece. 

Starting the third stanza, the Red Storm used a dual block from Jones and Kya Harris to take a 5-1 advantage. St. John’s lead would stretch to as many as five at 16-11, but once again the home team would fight their way back and force a deadlock at 18-18. The Musketeers continued to roll and took the set by way of a 25-21 decision, taking a 2-1 lead.

Neither team allowed more than one point lead to start the game, going back-and-forth to 5-5. After a pair of Zola kills to go up 9-7, the Musketeers took back the lead on a 3-0 run and force a timeout by the visitors at 11-9. As the game rolled on, St. John’s would continue to apply offensive pressure cutting the lead to two, 18-16. In the end, Xavier held on to take game 25-19, and the match 3-1.

The Red Storm return to the court tomorrow in Indianapolis for a matchup with Butler. First serve in Hinkle Fieldhouse is set for 5 p.m. To purchase tickets for the match, click here.