It has been a strong start to the collegiate volleyball season for St. John’s University volleyball, which is building chemistry and notching some solid wins. The Red Storm have shown they can win on the road and at home, coming away from last weekend’s Lou Carnesecca Invitational with two home wins (Rider and UAB) and a hard-fought four-set loss (East Texas A&M).
At 6-foot-3, sophomore Chloe Bell said she has played middle blocker since she started volleyball, “because I’m tall and my coaches would always put me in that position,” she said, noting she relishes the responsibility the position carries. “It suits me.”
Sophomore Kendall White is a 6-foot-1 opposite hitter. She played for the prestigious A5 Volleyball club in Georgia, so it was an expectation to play at the Division I level. “I was surrounded by girls with the same aspirations … and my sister, who is eight years older than me, was a D I volleyball player,” she said.
Bell, who is studying business, chose St. John’s because of “the community, the coaches, the education I can get here,” she said. White, also studying business, was drawn to “the culture of the program,” and praised the diversity on the team and St. John’s long-time volleyball coach Joanne Persico.
While it is early in the season, White said, “I already know this team is very special. We have a lot of great energy and we genuinely are connected. I’m excited to see how much better we get and see where the season takes us.”
Bell and White are aware that now is an exciting time for volleyball, with two professional women’s leagues. With plans of going to law school, White does not envision a pro career after college, but she appreciates the enthusiasm for the sport. Bell is not set on the pros, but said, “It’s not out of the picture.”
This weekend, the St. John’s volleyball team heads to New Rochelle for the Iona Invitational, where they will take on Central Connecticut State, NJIT, and Iona. “It’s been very exciting to see them gel as a group,” said Persico, noting the team has 10 new players. “We have a super-fun team, super-engaged … and they’ve come together really well. We have a good hitting percentage. We have good depth, so our practices are very competitive. We have good, healthy signs of a successful season.”
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