By Larry Moko
The Knights are on a quest.
The St. Thomas More Knights volleyball team continues to pursue an elusive Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school senior boys’ championship – one they haven’t captured since 1999.
More’s journey so far this season has led to 11 victories in 12 league starts. The latest triumph was 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) over the visiting Bishop Ryan Celtics Monday.
With that outcome, More maintained a share of first place with the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, who topped the Bishop Tonnos Titans, 2-0. Other matches saw the St. Mary Crusaders edge the Cathedral Gaels, 2-1 and the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves defeat the ACMT Jaguars, 2-0.
“The season has been going very well,” Knights coach Patrick Carpanini said. “To my knowledge, this is the first time in over 20 years that STM has a senior boys’ volleyball team that is worthy of going to the championship.”
Carpanini – in his fifth year as coach – says he’s working with a veteran squad that consists of mainly Grade 12 and 12-plus players.
“It’s a blessing that we have these boys,” he said. “They’ve chosen to come back and play volleyball together for one last ride.
“They’re practising hard and they all show up on time.”
The Knights attack is spearheaded by their captain and setter, Kosta Alexandrovich.
“We have a great leader in Kosta,” Carpanini said. “He’s a wonderful young man. I think he’ll be playing in the future for whatever university or college he chooses to go to.”
Outside hitters Miles Hampson and Marcus Solano along with middle Abraham Julien were the top point-getters against the third-place Celtics.
Said the Knights coach: “The four of them play on the same club team outside of school (Mountain Athletic Club U18). So they have really good chemistry with our setter.”
Alexandrovich says the MAC contingent “brings a different kind of synergy” to the high school league.
“We practice a lot,” he said. “We already have that base from playing at a higher level. So I would say it helps a lot. It’s a big reason why we’re doing as well (in the standings) as we’re doing right now.”
The top scorers for Bishop Ryan (8-4) were Josh Taylor, Harrison John, Anderson Koul and Lucas Das Neves Simoes.
Earlier this month Bishop Ryan handed More its only loss (2-0, both sets decided by two points).
“Today, we really wanted to take it,” Alexandrovich said. “Last year, as players, we had expectations and didn’t really meet them. This year we’re really trying to play as well as we can. I know for our school it’s really important.”
Photos by Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography