By Larry Moko
Christian Perri and the rest of Team Catholic did their best to overcome the height difference they faced at the annual Hamilton All-Star junior high school volleyball match Wednesday.
The opposition from Team Public featured 10 players in their lineup who were 6-foot-tall or more. The Catholic league squad, in comparison, dressed only four such players.
Team Public went on to a 3-1 victory at the Mohawk College gym (21-25, 25-20, 28-26, 25-15).
Perri, listed as the shortest player on the court at 5-foot-3, was named Most Valuable Player of the Catholic side. He's a Grade 9 setter/libero from the St. Thomas More Knights.
Perri discounted height being a factor in the game's outcome.
"It was a bit of an advantage for them but not much," he said. "I feel they just had better players at their disposal. Basically, their whole team plays rep.
"Although we didn't win, I'm still happy with how we played. Both teams played hard.
Despite his relatively small stature, Perri effectively quarterbacked the attack while setting. The Mountain Athletic Club member also saw action as a libero on defence making several outstanding digs.
"I try to help my teammates the best I can," he said.
Team Catholic coach Mike Fuchs of the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, praised Perri's performance against mostly older players.
"We tried him at both positions today," Fuchs said, "and I was really impressed with everything he did. He did a great job."
Overall, Fuchs said Team Catholic turned in a solid effort and committed to the game strategy.
"I thought the kids played really well," Fuchs added. "We were one point from winning that third set (leading 24-23) and then maybe it gets to five. Anything can happen in a short set like that."
Fuchs coached Newman to the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic championship this season. After tying for first place with the Bishop Tonnos Titans (11-3), the Cardinals defeated More, 3-0, in the final. Said Fuchs: "The group of kids we had this year at Newman was really special. It was our first junior championship in 22 years.
"Last year we had a lot of Grade 9s that got experience. This year, as Grade 10s, they really came together."
The MVP for Team Public was Jordan Leon of the Westmount Wildcats.
Other Team Catholic players included Liam Dupree and Devin St. Pierre (ACMT), Jacob Di Pasqua and Nicholas Ivkovic (Bishop Ryan), Gabriel Carpino and Cristiano Martinez (Bishop Tonnos), Thomas Heming (Cathedral), Morel Tonleu (St. Jean de Brébeuf), Mahdi Bayat, Victor Farbotko and Jaxon Nordoff (Newman), Charlie Horzelenberg (St. Mary) and Jakob Wells-Britton (St. Thomas More).
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
