Very few things can beat the feeling of sitting down for a volleyball game at Carnesecca Arena, getting lost in the rally and watching libero Rashanny Solano Smith pick up attacking hits with ease. It’s the kind of thing that can fill anyone with excitement just from watching. For Solano Smith, moments like this are what she lives for on the court. 

Solano Smith began her athletic journey playing both soccer and volleyball in her early childhood. She felt an attraction to volleyball due to both her parents being former players themselves, so when she was called to play for the Costa Rican national team, she felt she had to take the opportunity. 

Volleyball was opening doors for her like she had never imagined. 

While playing for Costa Rica, Solano Smith was recognized as one of the best. Playing in U19 tournaments, she won various awards like Best Libero, Best Digger, Tournament MVPs and even a Gold Medal at the U19 Central American Championship. 

One tournament that she played while on the Costa Rican national team took her to Oklahoma. It was at this tournament that she met the St. John’s coaches and was recruited to play as a Johnnie.

Though she now plays for St. John’s University, she has not left Costa Rica behind. She chose to join her home country once again in the 2025 U21 Pan American Cup, where she won the award for Best Libero. This tournament proved to be a valuable learning experience for Solano Smith.

“You learn so much from other liberos, or other people in general from other teams,” said Solano Smith. “Every country has their volleyball style, which is very fun to play against.  The United States has its own volleyball style, which is fast volleyball. You have to move more and stuff like that, but I like it.”

Her achievements don’t stop with Costa Rica. In her career at St. John’s, Solano Smith has reached a milestone of 1,000 career digs even before beginning her junior year. According to her, it’s all thanks to her coaches. 

She places emphasis on the importance of doing individual training in the spring with them to improve her technique. Once games become more frequent in the summer and fall, Solano Smith takes what she learns and applies it. This gives way to the great progress she has achieved since her freshman year.

Being a student athlete, Solano Smith recognizes the importance of balancing athletics with academics. Though it can be hard, she has found a support system in her advisors, coaches and peers to build a routine that works for her. 

“I feel like here at St. John’s, they have very good academic advisors, and just like academic balance with sports, I think it’s very good, and they help us a lot with it, ” she noted. “So we just have class in the mornings, and then practice in the afternoons. I usually try to get my homework done in between after I’m done with class and between practice. And after practice, I just get a little done. I’m not really a night person. I just like to sleep a lot.”

The junior Johnnie now majors in Sports Management, with a clear idea on what she wants to pursue.

“I really want to play pro volleyball,” she tells The Torch. “I don’t know where. I don’t know with whom, but I just want to try and play pro.”

Volleyball became a passion that she stuck to. She found a goal that she can work towards here at St. John’s, and she owes it all to two people in her life.

“I really want to thank my parents. They’re a very big part of my life. My dad is my coach back at home in my club team. My mom used to play a lot of years. She had to stop playing because she got pregnant with me. So I thank them a lot. They’ve done so much for me.”

Her passion is evident every second she spends on the court because volleyball is more than just a game for her. It’s a connection to her family, her roots, and her future. From Costa Rica to Queens, Rashanny Solano Smith made her mark on all of us, and the best is yet to come.