Marist holds off Providence in opener

Updated: March 24, 2011 3:04PM

With the state championship trophy comes the pressure and the target on the back.

For the defending champs, the Marist RedHawks know opponents will be gunning for them every time out.

Opening the season Tuesday, Providence especially was looking for some revenge having lost to the RedHawks three times last season including a heartbreaking season-ending loss in three games at the sectional finals.

Walking into a hostile environment in New Lenox, Marist outdueled Providence 25-21, 23-25, 25-18 to begin its title defense with a nonconference win.

"Coming into it, we didn't think it'd be as intense (as tonight)," Marist libero Kevin Murphy said. "The atmosphere, it's going to be like that every game of the year."

Jim Mead paced a balanced Marist (1-0) attack with nine kills to lead efforts from Kevin Morrison (7 kills), John Yerkes (6), Sean Connelly (6), and Tony Natalino (4). Garrett Dempsey had 26 assists for the RedHawks.

On the brink of closing out the Celtics in two games, Marist held a 21-15 advantage only to fall apart late. Providence closed things out scoring 10 of the game's last 12 points to force a third set.

"I don't know if we lost our concentration there or what," Marist coach Bob St. Leger said. "Providence is always a tough serving team, and they started rifling some serves at us, and we struggled to handle it. I don't know if we took a break thinking the game was over."

Providence built on the momentum, racing to an early 7-4 lead in the third as five different players recorded a kill. After a Mead kill, Murphy stepped to the service line and proceeded to pick the Celtics apart.

Behind the senior libero's service run, Marist rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 12-7 lead and never look back.

"We've got to learn to close games out," Murphy said. "I felt like they weren't handling the serves, and I just felt really good back there."

Marty Ross and Casey Contorno tallied nine kills apiece for Providence (0-1) with Brendan Duffner (7 kils) and Karl Schramm (21 assists) also contributing.

"Marist got on that run, and we were struggling to pass the ball," Providence coach Brett Krapil said. "With a lot of new guys this year, we're still learning. We're still trying to get in our groove at the same time."

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