University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
13-3,2-2Big East
St. John's
5-12,1-3Big East
Huskies Beat St. John's on Saturday Afternoon
10/4/2025 6:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. – UConn volleyball defeated St. John's University in four sets (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19) on Saturday at the UConn Volleyball Center.
The first set between the Huskies and St. John's was tightly contested, with both teams trading points throughout. Audrey Rome (Sandwich, Ill.) and Emma Werkmeister (Victor, N.Y.) made significant contributions on both ends for the Huskies, chipping in multiple kills and combining for a block. Grace Maria (Arlington, Va.), Anna Herman (Vincennes, Ind.) and Isabella Suhy (Toledo, Ohio) all fired in aces to give UConn a 13-10 lead. The Huskies stayed in control throughout the first set, building a 21-17 lead thanks to kills from Hanna Tylska (Sroda Wielkopolska, Poland) and Loren Winn (Dallas, Texas). St. John's rallied to tie the score at 22-22, but Winn and Rome made crucial kills to push the Huskies to set point. Werkmeister sealed the set with a decisive kill, giving UConn a 25-23 victory.
UConn took an early lead at 5-2 following an ace by Werkmeister and a kill by Rome. The home team maintained their advantage, with another kill from Winn pushing the lead to 12-8. However, St. John's rallied with a four-point run, including a service ace and a kill from Ludovica Zola, to tie the score at 12-12. The set remained tightly contested until Erin Jones and Martina Ghezzi's kills helped St. John's edge ahead. Jones and Ludovica Zola combined for a key block to put the Red Storm ahead 22-20, with the visitors riding the momentum to take the second set 25-22.
The sides traded points in the opening moments of the third set, with Doga Kutlu (Ankara, Turkey) and Ludovica Zola each pouring in an ace for their squads, keeping the score level at 6-6. St. John's took a 10-7 lead, forcing UConn into a timeout. The Huskies responded with authority, taking seven of the following ten points, led by multiple terminations from Tylska and Werkmeister to extend the lead to 19-15. Despite St. John's efforts, including kills from Ghezzi and Parker, UConn's balanced scoring attack lifted the Huskies to a 25-20 third set victory.
Werkmeister came out firing in the fourth set, with two booming aces to push the Huskies in front 8-3. Rome continued to shine on the attack, recording multiple kills in the set to build a 13-6 lead. UConn stretched its lead to 21-11, thanks to more offensive firepower from Rome and Winn and an ace from Brenna Wyman (Louisville, Ky.). The Red Storm fought back with a 5-0 run, closing the gap to 22-18 after multiple kills from Ghezzi and a block from Martina Capponocelli. However, the comeback would ultimately fall short, with Herman sealing the fourth set and the match for the Huskies, moving UConn to 2-2 in conference play.
Werkmeister led the team with 18 kills and added six digs. Rome posted 14 kills at a .500 hitting percentage and added four blocks. Kutlu facilitated the offense with a UConn career-high 56 assists and collected 16 digs. McKenna Brand (Lucas, Texas) anchored the defense with 21 digs.
UConn hits the road next weekend, traveling to Cincinnati to take on Xavier at the Cintas Center on Friday, October 10th at 6:00 pm.
