Published: May 12, 2007
HO CHI MINH City, Vietnam
Fact of the Day: Ho
Chi Minh City is home to more than eight million Vietnamese. After
the North Vietnam victory in 1975, Ho Chi Minh City was named for
the country’s nationalist leader. The city has been Vietnam’s
commercial headquarters since the late 1880s. Located on the Saigon
River, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s major port and largest city.
Yet, the old Saigon still survives in wide downtown avenues flanked
by pristine colonials.
The St. John’s women’s volleyball did not waste anytime on the
court this afternoon as they opened the fourth International
Vietnam Television (VTV) Cup Women’s Volleyball Tournament with a
3-0 sweep of Zhong Cai, a club team from China. The Red Storm
defeated its opponents (25-18, 25-13, 25-17).
“We were a little anxious at the beginning because the rules are
a bit different than playing in the NCAA,” said head coach
Joanne Persico-Smith. “But once the game started it was like we
picked up right where we left off in December. I’m very proud of
the way our ladies played today and to have won our first ever
international match.”
The Red Storm scored the first point of the match with a kill
from Hui
Ping Huang (Shanghai, China). Zhong Cai tied the score quickly,
1-1, and then took the lead. However, the Red Storm found its
groove and rallied behind points from Patti
Hardimon (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Latoya
Blunt (Vacaville, Calif.) to tie the score, 10-10. The two
teams then battled point-for-point until a tip from setter
Wioleta Leszczynska (Bielsko-Biala, Poland) knotted the score
at 17-17. A block from Huang and Leszczynska gave the Red Storm the
one-point lead and the squad never looked back again as they went
on a 9-1 run behind the service efforts of Blunt to win game one,
25-18.
In the second game, St. John’s came out strong with an early
lead and held onto the advantage for the entire game. Hardimon,
Huang and sophomore Casie
Brooks (Victorville, Calif.) aided in the Red Storm’s
dominance. A kill from Brooks gave St. John’s an eight point lead,
18-10, and then back-to-back service aces from Hardimon pushed the
Red Storm to a 10-point lead, 20-10. A kill from Blunt ended
game two in St. John’s favor, 25-13.
“We were all a bit nervous going out on the court,” said Brooks.
“But after the first few points, we all relaxed. Zhong Cai is a
quick team but we held our own.”
Leading 2-0, Huang opened the third game for the Red Storm
giving it a 3-0 start. However, Zhong Cai was not going to give up
that easily and fought back to tie the score, 6-6. The two teams
went head-to-head for a majority of the game until a kill from
Blunt and an Zhong Cai attacking error gave St. John’s the lead,
14-13. Service aces from Brooks and Leszczynska, and kills from
Hardimon and Huang propelled St. John’s to its largest lead of game
three, 23-16. A Zhong Cai attacking error gave St. John’s the game
and its first international match win, 25-17.
“I grew up playing with and against a couple of the players on
the Zhong Cai team,” said Huang. “I was very excited to beat them
today.”
The Red Storm received support from about fifty students from
Hong Bang University in Ho Chi Minh City. The students cheered,
applauded and celebrated with the Red Storm in their victory.
“We are never alone, no matter where we go,” said Persico-Smith.
“Even half way across the world, we have fans here in Vietnam.
There support was greatly appreciated.”
After the match, the Red Storm returned to the hotel for a team
lunch of. Being that it is the beginning of the rainy season in
Vietnam, the team decided to retire to their rooms and relax. The
squad returned to the competition facility to watch the national
teams of the Philippines and Japan battle in the first match of
Pool A and then joined the rest of the teams on the court for the
tournament’s opening ceremony.
The team was greeted by members of VTV, the sponsors of the
tournament, and the Vietnam Volleyball Federation. Each team was
presented with a bouquet of flowers and wish the best of luck in
the tournament.
The Red Storm concluded its third day in Ho Chi Minh City with
dinner at its hotel. Before heading to bed, setter Leszczynska
checked in with RedStormSports.com to post the team’s second
postcard from Vietnam. To view her postcard, click
here.
The Red Storm continues action at the 2007 VTV Cup on Sunday
against the national team of Kazakhstan. First serve is scheduled
for 2 p.m.
chào buổi tối
(good night!)
– Red Storm –