WSOU

Recap: Volleyball Gets a Much Needed Win Against St. John's Red Storm

Date: November 3, 2022

By: Matthew Soetebeer

The Pirates celebrate after a vital win.

Kayla Fonseca/WSOU

After losing by a match score of 3-1 on Oct. 12, the Seton Hall Pirates (14-11, 5-8 Conf.) took their revenge on the St. John’s Red Storm (16-10, 7-6 Conf.). It was truly a game of runs, filled with competitive action and gritty plays.

Outside hitter Giorgia Walther was a difference maker for the Red Storm from the jump. Her powerful strikes had the defense working all night, especially Pirates’ defensive specialist Jennifer Giron. Credit needs to be given where it is due, Giron was diving on the floor all night just to try to stop Walther’s intense hits.

Walther recorded 18 kills and 17 digs. Another impact player for the Red Storm was Lucrezia Lodi, who had 17 kills and 20 digs. For a player who is only a freshman, she showed great potential to be an impact player to look out for in the years to come.

St. John’s did a good job containing Jenna Walsh as best as they could. A player of Walsh’s caliber is always going to find ways to score, but she didn’t obliterate the defense like we often see. However, she still impacted the game by recording 14 digs. She is truly a two-way player, part of what makes her so good.

One of the most unlikely plays of the game was when Pirates defensive specialist Mason Woo dove to the ground to save a surefire kill for the Red Storm. Woo fell on her knees and was able to get up under the ball, hitting it while off balanced.

She somehow managed to have enough power to get the ball up over the net and hit it to the front right, where no St. John’s player was expecting the ball to come.

This play came in the third set, and it shortened The Red Storm’s lead from 8-5 to 8-6. St. John’s would end up winning that set, but it got the crowd up on their feet and had them excited. Sets One, Two, and Four were won by Seton Hall.

Had it been in any other contest, that would’ve likely been the play of the game. However, Bianca Bucciarelli had the most miraculous play seen at Walsh Gymnasium in a long time.

She got hit directly in the head from a strong spike from Giorgia Walther, but it bounced up and was kept alive by Jennifer Giron who sprinted to the sideline. The attack error would eventually be given to Walther after the rally continued for a while longer and Perri Lucas made a good defensive stop at the net.

After a stretch of seven losses, the Pirates needed this win. The competition they have been faced with is top tier, especially the teams in the Big East. They lost to Butler by a match score of 1-3 last month, but they will have their chance to get back at them this Saturday at 6 p.m.

Matthew Soetebeer can be reached at matthew.soetebeer@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports, Volleyball

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