4-27-19 (Providence, Rhode Island)- Three New Jersey teams headed to Providence Rhode Island for the Rhody Invitational High School Volleyball tournament featuring some of the best teams in New England. Top-ranked teams from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island participated including Coventry and Bishop Hendricken (Rhode Island), Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech and Newton South (Massachusetts), and Farmington (CT). New Jersey was represented by #13 St. Peter’s Prep, #21 Harrison, and Kingsway. Both SPP and Kingsway participated over the last two years. St. Peter’s won the tournament in 2017.
The tournament ended after a grueling long day of matches with 2 Massachusetts teams battling for the title. GNBVT looked unstoppable throughout the tourney showcasing solid passing and sets, strong hitting, and a super high pace. But Newton North, the #4 team in Massachusetts, dominated them in the final, getting an early lead and never looking back. We are sure to see these two teams match up in state tournaments later this Spring.
Harrison finished second in its pool but could not get passed Wayland, Mass. in their first Gold Division playoff game. Harrison did defeat the Newton North squad ranked #2 in Massachusetts and eventual winner of the tournament in pool play taking one of the two games played. Newton North only lost two sets all day. Harrison looked sharp in all their matches and continue to improve as they head toward County championships in just a few weeks.
Kingsway finished 5-3 in pool play and entered the Gold playoff bracket as a #9 seed. The Dragons, ranked #41 in New Jersey by NJP in last week’s ranking, had an excellent tournament, finishing behind a very strong Milford, Mass team who went to the semi-finals. They edged Bishop Henricken, the #2 team in Rhode Island to advance. North Kingston, #4 in Rhode Island, knocked Kingsway out of the playoff round.
St. Peter’s Prep, 9-0 and #13 in NJP’s most recent ranking, just missed the Gold playoff cutoff, going 4-4 after losing to North Kingston and Farmington. They powered through the Silver playoff bracket, beating Bishop Hendricken in the semi’s and La Salle in the finals to become Silver Champions. Senior Mason Matos was awarded “All-Tournament Team” honors.
Considering the level of competition, it was a very good showing for the teams from New Jersey. Congrats to all players and coaches for proudly representing the Garden State.
