University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
St. John's
Volleyball Faces St. John's in Final Game of Opening Weekend
8/28/2026 11:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
August 29, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (2-0) vs. St. John's
ODU Volleyball Center | Norfolk, Va.
Quest for the Crown
NORFOLK, Va. – Following a perfect opening day to the 2026 season, USC Upstate volleyball returns to the court Saturday afternoon as the Spartans close out their stay at the Quest for the Crown against St. John's. First serve from the ODU Volleyball Center is scheduled for noon.
Upstate enters Saturday looking to complete an undefeated opening weekend after collecting a pair of victories Friday. The Spartans opened the season with a five-set comeback victory over tournament host Old Dominion before defeating Norfolk State, 3-1, later in the evening.
Saturday's meeting carries some history as USC Upstate and St. John's meet for the first time. The matchup also represents the first meeting between St. John's and USC Upstate in any sport.
USC Upstate displayed its resilience throughout its season-opening doubleheader Friday.
Against Old Dominion, the Spartans twice battled back from a one-set deficit before taking the fourth set, 25-17, and the decisive fifth frame, 15-11. Upstate finished with 57 kills, 15 total blocks and 11 service aces while holding ODU to a .145 hitting percentage. Summer Kohler led the offense with 16 kills and added 18 digs, while Kensley Haneline recorded 13 kills and seven block assists in her Spartan debut. Sophia Overholt paced the defense with 24 digs, and Kamyla Vega David recorded 35 assists and 14 digs.
The Spartans carried that momentum into Friday evening against Norfolk State. After dropping the opening set, 25-20, Upstate responded by winning three straight frames, 25-14, 25-20 and 25-21, to improve to 2-0.
Sophia Spivey powered the offense against Norfolk State, putting down a match-high 18 kills with just one error on 29 attempts for a .586 hitting percentage. Kohler added her second double-double of the day with 13 kills and 14 digs, while Vega David distributed 34 assists and collected 19 digs. Overholt added a team-high 22 digs as Upstate held Norfolk State to a .112 hitting percentage.
Through the first two matches of the season, several Spartans have made immediate impacts.
Kohler recorded double-doubles in each of Friday's victories, totaling 29 kills and 32 digs across the two matches. Vega David also turned in two strong all-around performances from the setter position, combining for 69 assists and 33 digs.
At the net, Haneline and Tien Murray helped lead an Upstate blocking unit that totaled 15 blocks against Old Dominion, while Spivey emerged as another offensive weapon with her 18-kill performance against Norfolk State.
The Spartans have also shown an ability to respond when facing adversity. Upstate trailed Old Dominion two sets to one before winning the final two frames and then dropped the opening set against Norfolk State before rattling off three consecutive set victories.
St. John's enters the weekend under longtime head coach Joanne Persico, the only head coach in program history and a coach who surpassed 600 career victories during the 2025 season. The Red Storm finished last season by winning four of its final six matches, including a sweep of Seton Hall in its season finale.
Among the key returners for the Red Storm is Rashanny Solano Smith, who earned 2025 BIG EAST Libero of the Year honors. St. John's opened its 2026 campaign Friday at the Quest for the Crown with matches against Elon and Old Dominion before turning its attention to the Spartans Saturday.
St. John's defeated Elon, 3-1, in its season opener Friday.
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