By Larry Moko
Team Public needed five sets to defeat Team Catholic at the 2025 Hamilton senior boys' high school all-star volleyball game Wednesday night.
Played at the Mohawk College gym as part of a junior-senior doubleheader, the public school board squad won the deciding set, 15-9.
It was a disappointing ending for Team Catholic which started the city-bragging-rights showdown by racing out to a 12-1 lead in the first game.
Team Catholic victories came in Game 1 (25-11) and Game 3 (25-23) while Team Public also took Game 2 (25-18) and Game 4 (25-18).
"I was happy about that first set," Team Catholic coach Bernard Boulianne of the ACMT Jaguars said.
Three of his four ACMT representatives -- Brody Condie, Cedrik Dass and Benjamin Soules -- led the way in the opening game. That trio, along with ACMT teammate Yves Da-Juste Petion, has captured back-to-back Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league championships.
"It was a really good match to watch," Boulianne said. "Good volleyball. They all wanted to play here and the goal was to beat Public."
Boulianne said he enjoyed coaching players from the various schools who bonded together in a short period of time to develop some chemistry.
"They (Public) had a lot of tall players," Boulianne added. "We didn't have that as much. But we played with heart. I'm proud of the kids."
Team Catholic's Most Valuable Player selection was Dass, who also competes at the club level for the Kitchener-Waterloo Predators.
"It went pretty well, but it didn't end up in our favour," said Dass, a former Hamilton high school all-star MVP two years ago. "We played our hearts out. Overall, they were just more connected."
The all-star appearance was the third for Dass. He has also played at the last two OFSAA championship tournaments for A-level teams.
"You're motivated because you're playing against people you know in the city," he said of the all-star format. "You really want to beat those guys because they're Public and we're Catholic. It's a bit divided, but I like it that way. It was fun all around."
Team Public's MVP selection was Reed Fulsom of the Waterdown Warriors.
Other members of Team Catholic included Noah Cartwright (Bishop Ryan), Gavin Davis, Matthew Kolodziej and Andrew Lock (Bishop Tonnos), Cohen Maclellan (Cathedral), Zach Altura and Eli Rocafor (St. Jean de Brebeuf), Karsen Drew and Ethan Wysocki (St. Mary) and Colton Hand (St. Thomas More).
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
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