MSC Advances to Gold Medal Round at Rhody Invitational

Mount St. Charles achieved a fine record of 3-4 and reached the Gold Medal round in the fourth annual Rhody Invitational involving 16 of the top Division One teams in Mass. and RI held at Bryant University on Saturday.

The Mounties were 3-3 in Pool C competition with Cranston East, Lincoln-Sudbury (MA) and Andover (MA), just good enough to squeeze into the top eight, or Gold Medal round, featuring teams with the best pool records.

Lincoln-Sudbury, which had won the prestigious Holyoke Hall of Fame Showcase Classic, defeated the Mounties twice, including a close contest decided when Tommy Houpt delivered two final decisive hits to send the Mounties to their second loss.

In capturing two games against Cranston East, the Mounties relied on libero Chris Dugas, later named to the All-Tournament team and good defensive work by Ryan Durand and Pat Kennedy. 

The Mounties put up a spirited battle in a loss to Haverhill (MA), 30-28, but coach Josh D’Abate was satisfied with the effort and improvement his squad had made against the team, then undefeated in the tourney at 6-0. 

“We played with a lot more intensity,” said D’Abate. “We played a good and very skilled team in Haverhill. Ryan Durand, Matt Koback, Pat McCarthy, Matt Boni and Chris Dugas all played very well for us.”

In the single-game elimination contest against the Hillies, the Mounties extended their Bay State foe to an overtime session with eight ties in long exciting exchanges between the two clubs. With Haverhill ahead, 20-17, the Mounties clawed back featuring key winning hits by Pat McCarthy and a block by Matt Koback. Matt Boni made a dink shot to give the Mounties a short-lived lead, 26-25, and later delivered a crunching hit to tie the score at 27.

The match was finally decided by the Hillies’ senior outside hitter, Kevin Pettis, who made two crushing and clinching hits.

In the middle of just about every ball hit to the Mount St. Charles side was the 5-4 Dugas, who distributed  the ball consistently and accurately to his teammates throughout the tourney.  “We were able to pick it up in intensity,” he admitted. “We had trouble staying focused at first. This type of competition should help us to stay focused and be more intense during the season.”

In the Gold Medal championship match, it was a battle of respective Division One state champions between Chicopee Comp and Bishop Hendricken. The Colts won the last three points in a 16-14 thriller in the third game of a best-of-three finale match.

In a light week of regular-season action, Mount St. Charles, currently third in Division One at 5-1, travels to Chariho (0-7) on today for its only match.

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