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PROVIDENCE – The Mt. Hope Huskies are champions once again.
Behind a complete team performance and a dominant finish, the Huskies swept Exeter-West Greenwich on Saturday, June 6, to secure their second boys volleyball championship in program history and their second consecutive Division III state title.
"I felt nothing but happiness and pride for my team," Huskies senior captain Matthew Moran said about the win. "With the way we were playing coming in, being back-to-back champions was something we strived for all season.
"That last point, I was so happy. I just looked up at the scoreboard, saw the margin, and knew my boys were going to get it done."
What do these back-to-back titles mean for such a young program?
"It means so much. There's a very small chance that back-to-back state titles can happen with a program like this, considering it's such a new program. No [Mt. Hope] team had made it past the semis until last year. It's a huge accomplishment, and I'm so proud of everyone involved."
Heading into the match, the Huskies and Scarlet Knights were both on a hot streak. Mt. Hope came in after back-to-back sweeps of Mount Pleasant and Hope, while EWG earned a sweep of St. Raphael in the semifinals. With the two squads combining for just six losses throughout the season and both playing impressive volleyball down the stretch, the matchup had all the makings of a championship-caliber battle.
Despite being a young program, with its inaugural season coming in 2014, Mt. Hope has quickly risen to prominence as one of the state's top programs. EWG was making its first championship appearance since 2022, with the Scarlet Knights looking to capture their first title since 2006 (the program's lone championship).
The two teams had faced off earlier in the season, with Mt. Hope winning a tight match in five sets. The Huskies entered Saturday's rematch as the favorite, and the stage was set for a great matchup.
The first set began with a point for Mt. Hope, and the battle was on. Back-and-forth volleyball ensued, with each side trading two- and three-point runs. EWG fought hard and kept it close, led by another impressive performance from junior Zoltan Libertini. After a long, hard-fought first set, the Huskies took a 1-0 lead, winning the tightly contested frame 25-21.
Things started to look different in the second and third sets, however. The Huskies began to flex their size and skill as senior Dylan DeOliveira and junior Jackson Gould started to take over the match. Before the Scarlet Knights knew what hit them, Mt. Hope had claimed the second set in dominant fashion, highlighted by thunderous spikes from the Huskies' big hitters.
EWG gave it their all, but Mt. Hope was a different animal in the third. Smelling blood in the water, the Huskies raced out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. The final set was never in doubt. As senior Logan Toste subbed in and stepped to the service line with the Huskies holding match point, Mt. Hope closed out the match 25-9, completing an impressive performance and securing its second consecutive state championship.
The Huskies have a team spirit and sense of camaraderie that is evident to anyone who watches them play.
"We have all been playing together since freshman year," senior libero Arion Ferris said. "I remember my brother got us all into it. We got Matt into it, Dylan into it, the other guys into it, and this chemistry has just built up over time. Just being able to be here with these boys for four years, and now winning two years, you get along when you do great."
For the Scarlet Knights, this season is nothing to hang their heads over. The squad put together an impressive run for a smaller school and was led all season by standout performers such as Libertini and sophomore Casey Kretchman, both of whom will be back for next year's campaign. Despite a significant size disadvantage, EWG played with plenty of heart and left everything out on the court Saturday.
Looking forward, don’t be surprised if these two teams are back at it in the future. The Huskies will be losing their talented senior class but also retaining several key players, and they'll look to three-peat. EWG will also retain many key athletes from this squad that have proven they can play with anyone.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from the 2026 RIIL Division III Boys Volleyball Championship
Continue reading...
Behind a complete team performance and a dominant finish, the Huskies swept Exeter-West Greenwich on Saturday, June 6, to secure their second boys volleyball championship in program history and their second consecutive Division III state title.
"I felt nothing but happiness and pride for my team," Huskies senior captain Matthew Moran said about the win. "With the way we were playing coming in, being back-to-back champions was something we strived for all season.
"That last point, I was so happy. I just looked up at the scoreboard, saw the margin, and knew my boys were going to get it done."
What do these back-to-back titles mean for such a young program?
"It means so much. There's a very small chance that back-to-back state titles can happen with a program like this, considering it's such a new program. No [Mt. Hope] team had made it past the semis until last year. It's a huge accomplishment, and I'm so proud of everyone involved."
Heading into the match, the Huskies and Scarlet Knights were both on a hot streak. Mt. Hope came in after back-to-back sweeps of Mount Pleasant and Hope, while EWG earned a sweep of St. Raphael in the semifinals. With the two squads combining for just six losses throughout the season and both playing impressive volleyball down the stretch, the matchup had all the makings of a championship-caliber battle.
Despite being a young program, with its inaugural season coming in 2014, Mt. Hope has quickly risen to prominence as one of the state's top programs. EWG was making its first championship appearance since 2022, with the Scarlet Knights looking to capture their first title since 2006 (the program's lone championship).
The two teams had faced off earlier in the season, with Mt. Hope winning a tight match in five sets. The Huskies entered Saturday's rematch as the favorite, and the stage was set for a great matchup.
The first set began with a point for Mt. Hope, and the battle was on. Back-and-forth volleyball ensued, with each side trading two- and three-point runs. EWG fought hard and kept it close, led by another impressive performance from junior Zoltan Libertini. After a long, hard-fought first set, the Huskies took a 1-0 lead, winning the tightly contested frame 25-21.
Things started to look different in the second and third sets, however. The Huskies began to flex their size and skill as senior Dylan DeOliveira and junior Jackson Gould started to take over the match. Before the Scarlet Knights knew what hit them, Mt. Hope had claimed the second set in dominant fashion, highlighted by thunderous spikes from the Huskies' big hitters.
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EWG gave it their all, but Mt. Hope was a different animal in the third. Smelling blood in the water, the Huskies raced out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. The final set was never in doubt. As senior Logan Toste subbed in and stepped to the service line with the Huskies holding match point, Mt. Hope closed out the match 25-9, completing an impressive performance and securing its second consecutive state championship.
The Huskies have a team spirit and sense of camaraderie that is evident to anyone who watches them play.
"We have all been playing together since freshman year," senior libero Arion Ferris said. "I remember my brother got us all into it. We got Matt into it, Dylan into it, the other guys into it, and this chemistry has just built up over time. Just being able to be here with these boys for four years, and now winning two years, you get along when you do great."
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For the Scarlet Knights, this season is nothing to hang their heads over. The squad put together an impressive run for a smaller school and was led all season by standout performers such as Libertini and sophomore Casey Kretchman, both of whom will be back for next year's campaign. Despite a significant size disadvantage, EWG played with plenty of heart and left everything out on the court Saturday.
Looking forward, don’t be surprised if these two teams are back at it in the future. The Huskies will be losing their talented senior class but also retaining several key players, and they'll look to three-peat. EWG will also retain many key athletes from this squad that have proven they can play with anyone.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from the 2026 RIIL Division III Boys Volleyball Championship
Continue reading...
