Jamaica, N.Y.- St. Johns volleyball head coach Joanne Persico-Smith has announced the signing of five incoming recruits who will begin playing during the 2003 season. The following student-athletes have sign letters of intent to play for the Red Storm: Puna Richardson (Honolulu, Hawaii), Anicia Wood (Wotton Terrace, Barbados), Erin Poglits (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Alicia Carmignani (Oswego, Ill.), and Nicole Colaluca (Naperville, Ill.).

Richardson is a 6-0 middle/outside Hitter from Punahou High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. She earned second team All-Sate honors in 2001 and helped her club team finish second at the Jr. Olympics.

Wood is a 6-2 middle hitter from Barbados Community College. She played high school volleyball at Christ Church Foundation School where she captained her team in the High School Volleyball Cup, earned Sports Woman of the Year honors, and Best Blocker Award recipient. Wood was a member of the Barbados Junior National Team.

Poglits is a 5-10 setter from Marian High School in West Bloomfield, Mich. She earned All-American honors at the National AUU Tournament. She was nominated for the Wendys Heisman Athlete of the Year and Michigan Athlete of the Year. She led her high school team to the state quarterfinals and competed for the Michianna Jr. Olympic team that featured the top players from Michigan and Indiana.

Carmignani is a 5-8 outside hitter from Oswego High School in Oswego, Ill. She was named Conference Most Valuable Player, All-Conference two straight years, team Most Valuable Player and was a member of the Sports Performance club team that finished third nationally.

Colaluca is a 5-7 defensive specialist/libero from Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill. She earned Conference Most Valuable Player honors as a senior and received All-Conference and All-Conference Academic honors during her junior and senior seasons. She was one of nine girls selected to play for the 2002 All-City Girls Volleyball team in Naperville.

The Red Storm finished the 2002 campaign with a 17-6 overall record, including the programs first- ever victory over BIG EAST rival UConn. St. Johns returns nine letterwinners in 2003 to give the squad a solid of mix of veterans and newcomers that will be a force to reckoned with in the Northeast.