Nov. 18, 2007

Box Score

MILWAUKEE, WIS. - The No. 20 St. John's Red Storm volleyball team are the 2007 BIG EAST Champions, after defeating the Louisville Cardinals, 3-0 (30-24, 30-14, 30-26) in the tournament's championship match, Sunday afternoon. The Red Storm earns its first championship in program history. With the win, the Red Storm improves to 31-3 overall on the season, while the Cardinals dropped to 22-6.

"I'm very proud of the way our team performed to beat a talented and powerful Louisville volleyball team to win our first ever BIG EAST Tournament Championship," said head coach Joanne Persico-Smith. "It was a true team effort. We dedicate this championship to all our past players, our fans, family, and friends who have supported us along this incredible journey."

It was another all-team effort for the Red Storm, as senior Wioleta Leszczynska, who was named the BIG EAST Championship MVP, dished out 54 assists and finished the weekend with 166 assists, while senior All-Tournament team member Hui Ping Huang and junior Valeria Kovaleva tied the match-high 18 kills, and Kovaleva recorded her second double-double in as many days as she also had 14 digs. Senior Dana DeMayo also had her second double-double in a row, as she registered 11 kills and 16 digs. Junior Lena Yee threw herself around for a match-high 21 digs. Senior LaToya Blunt had 11 kills and a team high three blocks, and junior Casie Brooks contributed with nine digs and four kills.

Game one started with the Red Storm jumping out to a 3-1 lead, but the Cardinals answered right back to tie it up. St. John's jumped back up by the score of 10-4 on a big block by Huang followed by two straight kills by the BIG EAST Player of the Year, and the top-ranked Cardinals called their first timeout. The Red Storm built their lead to eight at 15-7 before the match's first television timeout. After the Cardinals cut the lead to five at 17-12 on three straight blocks, St. John's used its first timeout. Looking to sideout, on the next play Huang slammed down a kill to get the ball back. St. John's was the first to hit 20, when Huang registered her fifth kill of the game to give the Red Storm a 20-13 lead. The Red Storm got to game point at 29-22 on a Cardinal attack error, but couldn't put it away immediately, as Louisville picked up two straight points, and St. John's used its final timeout. After the quick breather, DeMayo ended game one, 30-24, with a kill. DeMayo had a game-high 10 digs in the first game.

The Red Storm had complete domination in the start of game two, as the team started on a 5-0 run with two kills by DeMayo and a kill apiece for Blunt, Leszczynska and Brooks, and Louisville called its first timeout. After the breather, DeMayo added another kill to increase the lead. St. John's pulled away to a 14-1 lead before the Cards grabbed three straight points. A kill by Kovaleva put the Red Storm up 15-4 into the official timeout. The Red Storm completely dominated game two, keeping Louisville to a -.045 hitting percentage. A kill by Huang ended the game, 30-14, and St. John's brought a 2-0 match lead into the locker room.

With the program's first BIG EAST Championship one game away, the Red Storm came out from the ten minute break ready. The team jumped out to a 6-3 lead but the Cards fought to within one. St. John's had another three point lead at 9-6 and again Louisville answered back, this time tying it on two straight kills by senior Svetlana Dukule, and the Red Storm burnt its first timeout. Each time St. John's went up by one, the Cards tied it, before taking the lead at 12-11. The Red Storm grabbed four of the next five points however, and went into the official timeout up 15-13. Coming back, the Cardinals took the next three points to take a 16-15 lead. The game remained tight and St. John's hit the 20 mark up by one, 20-19. Louisville called a timeout down 24-22, but two straight kills by Kovaleva increased the lead to four, and Louisville used their second and final timeout. Kovaleva had another kill right after the break, and the Red Storm was three points away. On match point at 29-24, Louisville extended it with a kill and a Red Storm attack error. The championship was sealed with a kill by DeMayo, St. John's won game three 30-26.

For the Cardinals, Tatyana Kolesnikova led the team with 11 kills, while Elena Pilnikova had a team-high 17 assists. Lecia Brown had a match-high eight total blocks, while Lindsay Mango had 17 digs.

With the win, the Red Storm has earned a spot in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, which begins Nov. 29. The selection show for the national event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 25.