Mount caps undefeated season with volleyball title

BY MIKE SZOSTAK
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE - Mount St. Charles Academy volleyball star Owen Jacobs ended his high-school career with an MVP performance Saturday in the Boys Division II Championship against Cranston East.

Jacobs, an outside hitter, had 31 kills, 13 digs, 4 aces and 2 blocks.

But the play of teammate Colin Russell was the difference between an undefeated championship season and a heartbreaking runner-up finish for the Mounties. Russell, a junior and middle hitter, had 17 kills, his career high, 8 blocks and 7 digs in the Mount's thrilling 3-2 victory over the Thunderbolts before a noisy crowd at The Murray Center at Rhode Island College.

Russell's deft block was the winning point in the fifth game of a match that looked like a Mount blowout after two games and a stunning Cranston East upset after four.

"I wasn't sure if it was going to land on out side or their side," Russell said of the deciding play at the net in Mount's 26-24, 25-14, 22-25, 20-25, 16-14 triumph.

Mount St. Charles won its second consecutive Division II title and posted a 19-0 match record and a 57-3 game record. Cranston East played in its first volleyball final and finished with a 17-2 record. The Thunderbolts became the first team this season to push the Mounties to five games.

"I thought they played very well. They gave Mount its toughest match of the year. It came down to a couple of points," said Cranston East coach Tom Ferri.

Although Mount led 16-12 at one point, neither team controlled the first game. Mount broke a 24-24 tie when East's Sunny Lei touched the net and won the game on another net violation by John Antoine. The Thunderbolts appeared demoralized and did not put up a fight in the second game. The Mounties came out a little cocky in the third but could not shake the 'Bolts. Cranston East broke a 22-22 tie on a Billy Chen kill, went up by two points on Erik Bou's block and won when Jacob's kill attempt landed out.

Cranston East started strong in the fourth game and except for two points led the entire game. Mount appeared dazed. At 12-8 Jeff Silva's touch landed in the middle of all five Mounties.

'I was shocked," Mount coach Josh D'Abate said. "We took out foot off the gas in the third game and made too many unforced errors in the fourth. I knew they were good defensively, but their offense surprised me. Their hitters came up with some big points."

The fifth game was tied at 3, 7 and 9 before CE took a 13-11 lead on Bou's shot that landed on the line. Jacobs tied the score on consecutive kills, and Mount went ahead on an unforced error. East tied the score on a shot off Sean Calnan, but Mount regained the lead when Bou's serve landed out. Jacobs served at match point, and Russell made his game-winning block.

"I knew it would be a great game. In the championship everyone shows up to play," Russell said, "but after the third and fourth games I was a little worried."

"His block was huge. I didn't know we had won. Colin came up big at the end," D'Abate said.

Setter Marc McKenna finished with 51 assists. Calnan had 10 kills, 12 digs and 3 blocks. Tom Reilly had 11 digs and Eric Mozynski 10.

Ferri was happy with his team's performance.

"Success to me is playing the best you can, and that's all I can ask for," he said.
"It was a lot of fun," D'Abate said, "and it could have gone either way."

mszostak@projo.com / (401) 277-7340

Posted by Mike Szostak  at 5:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)