QUEENS, N.Y.—Despite a strong match from its middle blockers and 10 team blocks on the night, Villanova (4-4, 3-3 BIG EAST) lost in straight sets to St. John's (10-3, 6-2 BIG EAST) at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday evening as the Red Storm avenged a loss to the Wildcats earlier this month. St. John's swept the match by set scores of 25-9, 25-21 and 25-21.
 
Freshman middle blocker Kiera Booth (Berlin, Pa.) had a match-high six total blocks on the night, including one solo block and five block assists. Fellow freshman Maddie Barber (Cedarburg, Wis.) and redshirt junior middle hitter Sophia Howling (Los Angeles, Calif.) added four total blocks apiece as Villanova reached double digits in team blocks for the second straight match and the third time this season.
 
Howling and junior outside hitter Clare Delaplane (Downers Grove, Ill.) each had six kills without an attack error to lead the Wildcats offense, while freshman Riley Homer (Grand Rapids, Mich.) also finished the night with six kills. After the offense was mostly kept in check in the opening set, Villanova responded with 11 kills in the second set and 10 in the third frame.
 
The host Red Storm took advantage of eight service aces in the opening set to jump out to an early lead in the match. St. John's jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second set, but this time the Wildcats had an answer and ran off five consecutive points to get within 12-11. Delaplane started the five-point run with a kill, while consecutive errors by the Red Storm forced a timeout. After the break, a block by Howing and sophomore setter Belle Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio) was followed by a Delaplane service ace.
 
Later in the second set, the Red Storm pulled away from a 14-13 lead with four straight points and Villanova called timeout. St. John's eventually stretched its lead to 23-17 before the Wildcats mounted another rally with four of the next five points. Delaplane started that run with a kill and Howling added two of her six kills on the night to narrow the score to 24-21. With Delaplane back to serve, a kill by the Red Storm ended the set at 25-21.
 
The third set also saw the teams trading points, with Villanova scoring four straight early in the set to take a 4-3 lead. Following a St. John's service error Barber and Booth rose up for consecutive blocks on the right side to tie the score, while a third straight Red Storm hitting error gave the Wildcats the lead. The score was tied at 3, 4, 5 and 6 in the set as both sides tried to seize momentum. A kill by Delaplane put Villanova in front 6-5, but St. John's won the next four points to take the lead for good.
 
Down as many as eight points at 18-10, the Wildcats scored four straight points with another block by Booth and Barber in the middle of that spurt. Villanova got within three points on three separate occasions at 22-19, 23-20 and 24-21 before the Red Storm finally closed out the match.
 
Villanova is currently tied for second place with Providence in the conference East Division standings with a 3-3 record. The two teams will meet for two matches in Providence this weekend, with those contests taking place on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.