Nov. 6, 2003

JAMAICA, N.Y. - The St. John's volleyball team is set to welcome BIG EAST rival Boston College on Friday, November 7 in what has shaped up to be an important match with possible BIG EAST tournament implications. The Red Storm are currently in fifth place at 23-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play, while the Eagles are 17-8 and 3-5, tied for seventh in the conference. Friday's game has been promoted as Hawaiian Night in honor of two St. John's seniors and four-year starters Robyn Kurasaki (Milliani, Hawaii) and Rosalyn Dang (Honolulu, Hawaii).

Kurasaki will depart St. John's as the all-time leader in assists as she broke alum Connie Chae's record earlier this season. Kurasaki has dished out 4692 career assists, but it has been her leadership and unselfishness that has led to the team's success. She has posted 898 assists this season, but when her team called on her to move to the outside and back row for defensive purpose, Kurasaki answered without skipping beat. She is second on the team in digs with 282 and has totaled a career-high 102 kills, more than doubling her kills total for any other season.

Dang has been a mainstay on the right side for four years at St. John's. She is currently enjoying her most successful season at St. John's. She has totaled 248 kills, 10 behind her personal best set during her freshman season, while hitting a career best .302. She is number two all-time at St. John's in service aces with 127, five behind the all time mark with four games left to play and ranks fifth in career kills with 934 and second in attempts with 2651.

Also for the Red Storm this season , sophomore Jackie Ahlers (Stony Point, N.Y.) has proven that her stellar freshman season was no fluke. She ranks first in the BIG EAST and 21st in the country with 536 kills for an average of 5.15 kills per game. Ahlers is challenging the all-time single season kills mark, trailing alum Olga Roudovski by 18 kills with four matches left to play. Ahlers has earned numerous accolades this season, including: most valuable player of the 2003 SJU Classic, all-tournament honors in four different tournaments, and BIG EAST player of the week three times.

The Red Storm has received contributions from newcomers this season as well. Freshman Puna Richardson (Honolulu, Hawaii) has been strong in the middle, totaling 236 kills and a .312 hitting percentage. Freshman Nicole Colaluca (Naperville, Ill.) has been strong on the back row, even using her head and feet at times, totaling a team-high 425 digs, ranking her sixth on the all-time single season list.

The Red Storm will host BIG EAST rival Boston College on Hawaiian Night this Friday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Hall. Admission is free and all fans are encouraged to wear a Hawaiian shirt. There will be prize giveaways and a 50/50 raffle at the door.