Club Volleyball Hosts Invitational and Makes Final!
01.27.20
Maxwell Laiter
Warwick, R.I. – January 27, 2020: The CCRI Knights men’s club volleyball team hosted their first invitational of the season on Saturday morning. The Knights played strong throughout the entire day going undefeated until the final where they lost a tight match with UConn club. The impressive performances start off CCRI’s season record 5-1.
CCRI’s Invitational Scores;
Assumption C - won - 25-8, 25-20
US Coast Guard Academy - won - 25-15, 25-14
Holy Cross C - won - 25-16, 25-16
Bowdoin - won by forfeit
University of New Haven – Semifinal - won - 26-24, 25-14
UConn - Final - lost - 28-26, 25-22
Before the semifinal against University of New Haven (UNH), a lineup change was required. Freshman David Molina (Providence, RI) stepped in to see out the remainder of the invitational at the setter position and did so admirably.
CCRI’s other key performers were led by sophomore Abu Kamara (Providence, RI) with 19 kills, 14 aces and four blocks. Freshman Brandon Parton (Coventry, RI) registered 21 kills with six blocks and four aces. Sophomore Maxwell Laiter (Warwick, RI) led the team at the net with 11 blocks and added a solid 17 kills. Leading the Knights with 26 kills was sophomore Ryan Casci (South Kingstown, RI) with an additional four blocks and four aces.
The Knights battled well to get through UNH in the semis, taking the slimmest of victories in game one, 26-24 before winning more convincingly in game two 25-14. Against UConn in the final CCRI was neck and neck throughout but fell in game one 28-26, their first loss of the Invitational. They would lose another tight game 25-22 as UConn would take home the Invitational Final victory.
Head Coach Anne-Marie Balboni commented: “Finals was just a battle that could have gone either way. It went slightly against us, but this team left the gym eager for the next practice, excited for the rest of the season and psyched to dominate.”
The CCRI Knights men’s club volleyball team will next be in action on Saturday, February 15th at the Flanagan Field House.
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The Community College of Rhode Island, New England's largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 15,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.