BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
METUCHEN – At this year’s Super Six Showcase held last weekend in the borough, the St. Joseph High School boys volleyball team continued its dominance and won all four of its matches.
As the event’s host school, St. Joe’s had little trouble posting wins over Cherry Hill East, Bridgewater-Raritan, Southern Regional and Fair Lawn.
Senior co-captain John Moll was spectacular at the outside hitter position, along with defensive specialist Kurt Backlund.
“John led the offense the whole day,” St. Joe’s head coach Miguel Cabrita said. “He gave us one of his best performances of the season.”
Backlund was in rhythm both serving and passing the ball, and he helped the team stay composed amidst some stiff competition.
“Everybody played really well,” Cabrita said. “The team stayed focused and refused to get rattled. We were down quite a few points in a number of games, but we came back to win. Our guys stayed calm and focused on task.”
Earlier last month, the Falcons competed in the Rhodey Invitational Tournament in Rhode Island and took home the team title.
After breezing through pool-play, the Falcons locked horns with Rhode Island’s state runner-up in 2005 in Toll Gate High School. St. Joe’s beat Toll Gate to advance to the finals and face the two-time defending state champions, Bishop Hendricken.
“This was our first time competing in the tournament, and we expected to see some really good teams,” Cabrita said. “Hendricken has won four of the last seven state tournaments in Rhode Island, and they made us earn the tournament win.”
Backlund and Moll were outstanding again, and were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts. Junior Drew Colon was named the tournament MVP.
“Drew was really fired up,” Cabrita said. “He did an amazing job blocking and passing, and he had a confidence that was contagious to the rest of the guys.”
In the last game of the tournament finals, Backlund put on a serving clinic to put away Bishop Hendricken.
“He ran off a sequence of jump serves that really gave us a spark,” Cabrita said. “That helped us pull it out in two games and prevented them from forcing a third game.”
Senior middle Alan Zastrow and junior right side Keith MacDonald also enjoyed solid tournaments last month.
“Keith has become more of a weapon on the court, and Alan is producing more offense for the team,” Cabrita said. “Keith is usually one of the game leaders in digs, and he’s been a silent but deadly type of player.”
The Falcons resume play today with a meeting with West Windsor North as preparation for the next tournament, the St. Peter’s Tournament on May 13.
“West Windsor North is less experienced than some of the other teams we play, but we know we have to be ready to play regardless of a team’s history,” Cabrita said. “With the GMC Tournament later this month, we have to stay focused.”
The Falcons head into this week’s action with a 16-1 record with their only loss coming at the hands of Freedom High School from Pennsylvania. St. Joe’s suffered the loss in the Clifton Tournament earlier this season.