Red Storm Sports News

The St. John’s volleyball team will embark on an extraordinary journey next month as it becomes the first collegiate women’s volleyball team to compete in Vietnam, from May 8 to 24.

The Red Storm will represent the United States as the first American team to play in the Vietnam Television (VTV) International Women’s Volleyball Cup.

“We are honored to have been chosen to represent our University and our country as the first American collegiate women’s volleyball team to compete in this tournament,” said head coach Joanne Persico-Smith.

The volleyball team compiled its best season in program history, posting a 31-5 overall record and earning its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm was the only BIG EAST team to advance to the second round of the championship tournament after defeating Albany, 3-1. The Red Storm also earned its first-ever national ranking this fall as it appeared in the poll at No. 24. Adding to its accomplishments, the squad garnered its first-ever BIG EAST Regular Season crown after posting an unprecedented perfect conference record (14-0).

Persico-Smith was named the 2006 BIG EAST Coach of the Year on the 20-year anniversary of receiving BIG EAST Player of the Year honors. She is the only coach in the league to earn both honors. Persico-Smith was also named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Coach of the Year and a Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com) Coach of the Year honorable mention selection.

Along with Persico-Smith and assistant coaches Mario Treibit and Li Chen, the Red Storm squad includes 2006 BIG EAST Libero of the Year Kathleen Yee (Honolulu, Hawaii), AVCA All-America honorees Wioleta Leszczynska (Bielsko-Biala, Poland) and Hui Ping Huang (The Republic of China), first team All-BIG EAST member Patti Hardimon (Honolulu, Hawaii) and second team all-conference honoree Latoya Blunt (Vacaville, Calif.)

Defensive specialist Jenna Schweitzer (Bethlehem, Pa.), outside hitter Elizabeth Austin (Kansas City, Mo.), right side hitters Casie Brooks (Victorville, Calif.), Dana DeMayo (Ra’anana, Israel), Ruisa Scheffel (Novo Hamburgo, Brazil) and Valeria Kovaleva (Moscow, Russia), and middle hitter Alanna Rutan (San Deigo, Calif.) round out the St. John’s line up.

“We have a new energy as we enter the spring and summer season,” Persico-Smith said. “The team is very excited for the chance to interact with these international teams through the sport of volleyball.”

Operated by the Volleyball Federation of Vietnam, in conjunction with the Asian Volleyball Confederation, the VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup was established in 2004 and annually showcases the best in Asian volleyball. The 2007 cup will be held in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam and will be televised live throughout the country.

This year’s participants include the national teams of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Japan, Myanmar and Vietnam, two collegiate teams from China, the University of Aviation and the University of Economics, and the VTV club team from Vietnam. Past champions include Nanjing (2004), Vietnam (2005) and Schechuan (2006).
 
“This tournament will be the highest level of volleyball that we’ve ever competed in,” said Persico-Smith. “It’s similar to playing in a World Cup. These Asian teams are the best of what their countries have to offer. Competition will be outstanding.”

The Red Storm will depart from New York on May 8, arriving on May 10 in Ho Chi Minh City. Competition will commence on May 12 going through May 19. Teams will be divided into two pools to play a single round-robin preliminary round to determine the ranking in each pool. Semifinal matches will follow with the championship match to determine gold, silver and bronze medalists.

“This is a great opportunity for our volleyball team to experience a different part of the world and learn about a new culture, while receiving the athletic benefits that summer tours provide,” said Chris Monasch, St. John’s Director of Athletics.

After the conclusion of the tournament, St. John’s will travel north to Hanoi. While in the capital city, the Red Storm will continue the community service initiatives it took part in Ho Chi Minh City with a visit to the Daughters of Charity and continue to learn about the history of Vietnam. The volleyball team will also host a farewell dinner banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Hanoi. In attendance at the banquet will be Tran Thanh Kiem, the First Lady of Vietnam, Governor of Hanoi Nguyen Quoc Trieu, Governor of Ha Tinh Tran Dinh Dan, Nguyen Van Quan, the secretary general of the Vietnamese Olympics Committee, and Ha Manh Thu, the secretary general of the Vietnamese Volleyball Federation. Several other U.S. and Vietnamese dignitaries will also be in attendance.

“St. John’s University has a significant relationship with Vietnam and its people,” said Monasch. “It is an honor for our program to be able to serve as ambassadors for the University and assist in the continued development of this relationship.”

The Daughers of Charity Federation was founded by St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Its mission is to embrace life’s reality both in the context of membership and mission, and, in solidarity with the poor, the federation acts for advocacy and system change on a global and local level.

“We look forward to the opportunity to not only compete at such an elite level, but to experience a new culture,” said Persico-Smith. “Along with that we have the ability to work with the Sisters of Charity and continue the mission of St. John’s in Vietnam.”

The Red Storm concludes its trip to Vietnam with a two-day excursion to Ha Long Bay, one of the world heritage sites, where the team will be able to experience the scenic and coastal beauty of Vietnam before returning to New York on May 24.

Along with the volleyball team, several University academic programs will be in Vietnam during the month of May. Undergraduate and graduate students will be attending a study abroad program, while Drs. Jeffrey Fagen, Mark Terjesen, Kate Walton and Rafael Javier will be presenting papers at a Psychology conference at the Hanoi National Education University.

Drs. Jay Zimmerman, Dipak Haldar and Jayda Haldar from the Department of Biological Sciences will be visiting Vinh University to seek a collaborative research opportunity between the two laboratories. Dr. Frank Biafora will also be lecturing at the National Institute of Education Management on accreditation and assessment systems in the United States.

St. John’s began its partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Vietnam in 2002. MOET designates their best and brightest scholars to be formally educated throughout the world, and St. John’s was rated as the top choice among American universities. Assistant Dean, Graduate Division of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Director of Vietnam Initiatives Dr. Hung P. Le has been very active in the process.

In January of 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Vietnamese Sports Ministry and St. John’s to continue to foster relationships and programming both athletically and academically. The agreement included a tour by the nationally ranked men’s soccer team to play a series of exhibition games in May and June of 2006. It was the first time an American soccer team had officially been invited to play on Vietnamese soil.

“It was an unbelievable opportunity and a great cultural experience,” said head men’s soccer coach Dr. Dave Masur. "It allowed our student-athletes to serve as ambassadors for St. John's University and representatives our sport. The volleyball team has the opportunity to continue to build on the relationships that have been established in Vietnam and act as ambassadors for the University."

Fans can follow the Red Storm’s journey through Vietnam by visiting www.RedStormSports.com for game recaps, photo galleries and daily postcards from the team members.

“We are excited to follow up the momentous 2006 season with this amazing trip,” said Persico-Smith. “It is one that will help us prepare for the 2007 volleyball season and it is one that we will never forget.”

For the most up-to-date information and statistics on St. John's Athletics, please visit www.RedStormSports.com, or call our hotline at 1-888-GO-STORM.

— Red Storm —