2024 RI Girls HS Volleyball - Are You Ready?
8/26/24
RI High School Girls Volleyball tips off in a week. Are you ready?
If you missed the ResV 2024 RI Girls High School Preview you can find it here!
Top Week One Matches:
9/3/24 - LaSalle Academy at Coventry High School - 6:30pm
9/3/24 - South Kingstown at East Providence - 6:30pm
9/3/24 - Barrington hosting Bay View - 6:30pm
9/3/24 - Mt. Hope traveling to Middletown - 6pm
9/4/24 - Tolman on the road to Tiverton - 6:30pm
9/4/24 - Blackstone Valley hosting Hope - 5pm
9/5/24 - Cumberland hosting Barrington - 6:30pm
9/6/24 - Juanita Sanchez hosting Tiverton - 6:30pm
ResV Top Five (Playoff bound?) Teams in Each Division:
Division 1:
North Kingstown - Looking to threepeat! Arms include Tess LeFrenier (ResV all-star match MVP), Ava Sardelli, and Kayleigh Garrepy (2023 ResV Newcomer of the Year award winner). Syd Henson (2023 ResV Defensive Player of the Year) will either continue her defensive dominance or perhaps set for this final year. Basically, the Skippers are loaded and have as good a chance as anyone to get another one.
LaSalle Academy - Similar to NK in some ways…they have a top shelf libero in Sofia D’Agostino and a solid arm in Maisy Naff. The trick will be can everyone be on the same page when it’s go time. Throughout the years, the Rams have been a team that gives NK fits…could they be the only team to stop another Skipper banner?
South Kingstown - Aren’t we called Rebels? Then let’s rebel! SK will have one of the top middles in the state (India Vaughn-Hallene) along with very solid hands from last year (Alexandra Spinella). The libero is good (Mia Iemma), and the coaching is top notch in Rebel land (Ian McCoy). Have a feeling they may be a real tough out this season.
Portsmouth - Armed with one of the top two setters in the state (Caitlin Mediate), a very good pin (Hailey Labonte), and a barn that brings nightmares to opponents, the Patriots will look to stake their claim in the toughest division in the land.
East Providence - Back in the big time, with a player of the year candidate (Keira Mullen), a second arm that will cause opponents to adjust (Eliza Vest), and a coach who has seen it all (Alex Butler). Townies should pose problems for opponents, though depth questions will remain early on.
Division 2:
Barrington - Eagles should fly in 2024. Emma McCrann will be a feature all-around player teamed with Morgan Martin at the Libero spot, meanwhile Sophia Denham will run hands again and be very good. Eagles have a tough barn for opponents to be successful in and have top players in the division at the key spots.
Mt. Hope - Return everyone but their setter. Sarah Wilcox is a legit threat to score at all times while Mia Hanson is a sure-handed Libero. Abigail Allen and Gianna Lunney will be weapons as well. New hands may take some adjustment, but not for very long.
Middletown - The Islanders graduated eight players including top pin Gwen Delaney, second pin Gianna Piker, and top middle Skylar Schuster…thus a revamp is coming. Aidan Reilly most likely will be called upon to score in bunches. From there, we’ll see what Coach Steppens has planned.
Cumberland - Similar to Middletown, the Clippers graduated seven and at all of their key positions. So, the rebuild is on. Good news is the Clippers have had two decent seasons behind them to looks at. Those seniors who moved on played against the younger crew, so all have seen what the level needs to be. Executing when the lights are in will tell the tale.
Bay View - I have a feeling that Bay View may be in a good spot this year. They were a playoff team last year (7th seed) and had some strong moments. This year, Avery Gomes returns and will likely score the bulk of the points. They’ll be a new middle and new setter to deal with, but this Bay View side should increase their win total from last year.
Division 3:
Tolman - I have to think the runners-up from last year are on their own sort of revenge tour. Luckily the timeline snapped back into place with the boys as Tolman rightfully took the crown. For the girls, however, it’s a little different story. Trinity Burk, Sellymar Garcia, and Nyomi Gomes have all graduated, so the question becomes where are the points going to come from and who is going to be the Lib? Something tells me they’ll have it figured out and the game will once again be afoot…ready, set, go!
Tiverton - It felt like Tiverton was cruising on all cylinders last year until the playoffs. They even had a bye to the semis…then they ran into the buzzsaw of Burrillville who was just not to be denied that year. Picking up the pieces, Tiverton should still be in the mix this upcoming season. They did graduate seven, but they had a huge roster and plenty of players are ready to roll in 2024.
Juanita Sanchez - JS can ball! If I recall correctly, Julisa Smith is a real good pin and she returns to showcase in 2024. The Cavaliers were a grind it out team last year and were unfortunately upset in the quarters by eventual champs Burrillville. 2024 may be a different year with more wins then one thinks.
Scituate - It’s been three years since Scituate won the whole thing as the third seed. They’ve had two semi-finals finishes since then, so you can almost set your watch the idea that the Spartans will be in the mix. It’s new year and I’m taking the solid bet that Scituate will be a tough out.
Providence Country Day - The thing that I liked the most about PCD in past years was they serve tough. It’s been the secret of their success these past two championship years. Now they’re in a new conference, so they’ll need to lean heavy on that serving prowess to make waves and establish another playoff position.
Division 4:
Shea - I sometimes wonder if having a bye in the playoffs is a good thing. In Shea’s situation, they had a bye, then beat Blackstone Valley in straight, rather straight forward, sets. All was great, until PCD came out swinging in the finals and before you know it, Shea was in a battle they wouldn’t win. Sometimes you need adversity early on in the playoffs so that your toughest opponent by a mile isn’t the one you see last. Shea should bounce back and give it another go, and there may not be many teams that can stop them this time.
Blackstone Valley - The Valley graduated eight players, so it’ll be interesting to see what level they bring to the table after a very successful season in 2023. Finishing fourth overall in D4 and making it to the semi-finals was a solid accomplishment for this side and the idea will be to build on last year’s success with a new crop of athletes.
Hope - The playoffs last year saw a Hope squad that absolutely terrified Mt. Pleasant in the quarter finals. The five-set defeat, though frustrating, showcased that at any moment Hope had the ability to break through and win a match. It’s that vibe that the 2024 Blue Wave will be looking to harness. Only graduating five from last year, this Hope side is looking to land in the final four of the conference, and perhaps even further like their 2022 team did.
Toll Gate - The Titans have a rich history of success in the girls’ volleyball world, so it’ll be interesting to see how this 2024 squad does. According to the RIIL rosters from 2023, Toll Gate graduated a record (at least in my mind) thirteen players last year. Now, sometimes the RIIL rosters aren’t accurate or up to date, but if that’s correct…woah, that’s a lot. Regardless, I have a feeling the Titans will be in the mix this season and perhaps even stun some teams in the process.
Davies - Last time we saw Davies that were having an up and down year in 2023. Some days they were upsetting seeds and other days…well, it just wasn’t going the way it was hoped to go. All good, as that really sort of describes most teams in the state (most of us in general? lol). They had wrangled the five seed from Hope, but then ran into a Blackstone Valley side that was pretty on that day in the playoffs. Only graduating six from last year, Davies is in decent shape and should be able to push and do some top five positioning this year.
Click the picture to watch the 2023 RI Girl's High School Volleyball ResV Match!
Top Five Coaches to Watch in the First Half of the Season:
There are two types of coaches at the start of every season. There is the coach who is in rebuilding mode or the coach who is looking to make a run at the title. Both have different challenges. So, when you’re talking about coaches to watch for the first half, it’s all about expectations…who lives up to them and who exceeds them. Quick example…a team like North Kingstown is looking to win it all again. So, their coach has to come out the gate with W’s and solid play. Meanwhile, a team like Cumberland, who graduated a ton of contributors and is working with almost an entirely new roster, well, that coach is looking to exceed expectations with strong play despite all the new faces. Every team has goals and will be searching for consistent, solid, play…but the coaches below all have interesting tests before them.
Brian Garrepy - North Kingstown - Going for a threepeat is always an exciting adventure for a program. Success is already established, key players have come and gone, everyone is gunning for you… How Coach Garrepy maneuvers through the first half of the season will be interesting, and it will go a long way toward setting the table for said possible threepeat. We don’t know who is setting. All we know is that they’ll have two of the top players in the state, a roster of ready to be known athletes, and a steady plan of attack that has been successful for a long time.
Dave DeJesus - Cumberland - DeJesus finds his program with almost an entirely new roster. Fresh off being the runner up in D2, the Clippers will have to re-learn their system of attack and find their footing again in a tough D2 world. With teams like Barrington and Mt. Hope who return pretty complete squads, DeJesus and crew will be looking to carve out their new style and play consistent ball to push opponents in D2.
Steve Bevilacqua - Tolman - Bevi’s side was the runner up last year in D3 and were one of the top teams all last year in the division. The finals hurt, but what Steve has accomplished in both girls and boys’ volleyball is excellent work. Both teams have been to the finals in the same year, with the boys getting it done recently. This season, Tolman should be right in the mix again and we’ll know just how much in the mix by the first half.
Nick Hurley - Blackstone Valley - I picked Blackstone Valley over Shea for this one, mainly because I was a fan of the Valley last year in the sense that Shea and Tolman were solidified while BV seemed to charge out of left field to challenge. 2024 could project to be more of the same, as the re-alignment kept Shea but jettisoned PCD…with the Valley being one of two teams that made it to the semis and beyond in last year’s tournament now in the league. No doubt Coach Hurley would love to jump out early with “W’s” to set the tone.
Kathy McGeehan - Chariho - The ups and downs of coaching mimic a rollercoaster with highs and lows. Coach McGeehan has been doing it for a long time and she’s seen it all. 2024 will be one of those years where everything is brand new, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Chargers navigate the waters. The team that went undefeated in D2, and bowed out in heartbreaking fashion in the D1 semis is all but gone, but a new roster means a new batch of opportunities. We’ll have a better idea of what they’re capable of by the first half results.
Top Five Officials You’ll See this Girl’s Season:
The hardest job in sports right now is that of the official. Emotions, bad behavior, critical calls with not much time to decide, and ignorance all plague the official who, often times, is there because they just love the sport. The quest to get it right in match play is an arduous one and often a thankless one as well. So, what makes a good official? To me, it’s a person who leaves emotion at the door. A person who doesn’t see the teams, just sees the play. Confident, but also supremely interested in getting it right. A person who uses the correct verbiage when dealing with coaches and players to defuse. A person who does not interject themselves into the match, especially at the end of sets. A person who can read the room and set the bar of play appropriately and stick to that level of officiating (reffing is an art form more than cause and effect). A person who comes and goes like the wind…good officials arrive do their job and leave with the goal that nobody even remembers they were there.
Rick Rowey - The best in the RI stable. Rowey has been doing it for 30+ years and at all levels. He is superb with his manner and appearance. He’s a statue, zero emotion, with excellent recognition of play. Rick is also top tier at dealing with coaches, players, and whatever craziness that could occur. He’s seen it all and he does not get bothered by missteps along the way. Rowey has no issues bringing his officiating team in if unsure about a call, but also has no issues overruling when the call is made in error by a member of his officiating team. It’s about getting it right, as Rowey completely understand how hard players and coaches work to prepare for their matches. He’ll call a bad match now and then (and will beat himself up afterwards about it), as will all officials, but coaches know they’re going to get a fair shake every time he walks into a gym.
Ted Tracy - Mr. Tracy has been in the reffing world for close to 15+ years now. Tracy knew he wanted to be an official as early as high school and has constantly been working on his craft since those early days. Few know the rule book like Ted, and like Rowey, he has done it at all levels. Ted is confidant in his calls and has developed a good bed-side manner when dealing with coaches and players. He also trains and preps other officials / line judges extremely well. There is no one who is better prepared than Tracy and coaches appreciate his no-nonsense style to calling a game (We’re here to do this and we’re going to do it well). When Tracy walks into a gym, coaches know proficiency and pace are coming and the match will be run with consistency and competency.
Brian Hesford - Hesford’s military experience early in his career translates so well to his officiating. Brian is always searching for the perfect game…meaning he holds himself to the highest standards possible. When his game face is on as an official, he locks in and does an excellent job. Hesford, like Tracy and Rowey, refs at all levels and has been doing it probably the same amount as Tracy. He’s another guy who will beat himself up for a while if he has a bad night. Absolutely proficient with the rules, with a quizzical look that could make you stop short (drop and give me 20 for that question) when the ask is ridiculous, Hesford controls the game well and takes the time to get it right.
Nareg Mkrtschjan - Nareg is one of the younger officials in the RI stable that does a real nice job and is fast tracking his way in the profession. Nareg, a former club player at BU, carries himself very well on the stand. He’s got the statue / emotionless persona and his confidence in calls and match orchestration is beyond his short time as an official. Mkrtschjan is also inquisitive and has a strong desire to learn his craft. He’s already worked with many of the top officials in the region and has gleamed something from all of them in adapting his style. He has the broken record idea (or maybe the secret sauce) of taking extra time to ensure the call is the right one and is always interested in breaking down the match afterwards with another official to figure out where things could be improved.
David Molina - Molina is another younger official that is doing good work in the RI stable of referees. Dave played high school ball and has coached a little in the club world, but his passion is on the officiating side of the fence. Molina is strong with the rule book and has confidence with making calls in fast play. He’s done a good job adapting his overall style of calling a game to ensure that a fair match ensues no matter the level. He has good instincts, and his bed-side manner is solid with coaches and players.
Rumor has it that perhaps Brian Hesford may be coaching instead of reffing this year and if that’s the case…
Bob Arruda / Jay Simmons - Arruda and Simmons are both guys who have a solid grasp on the job. I couldn’t decide who was better so I’m going with them both. They’re pretty similar in the sense that both have been officials for quite a long time, and both have seen it all in match play. Both guys absolutely embrace the idea of getting in and out quickly with the desire being that nobody remembers them being there. They also are solid in dealing with coaches and moving on quickly from errors in a match. Get it right, let the players decide it, keep emotions out of it, move on…
2024 Preseason All-ResV teams:
First Team:
Pin- Tess LeFrenier - North Kingstown - Sr. - Huge arm with really good attacking vision. All-around game is top tier.
Pin- Hailey Labonte - Portsmouth - Sr. - Solid arm with a good passing game. Will do well with increase of volume.
Middle- India Vaughn-Hallene - South Kingstown - Sr. - Bouncy middle with good vision and instincts. Closes block as well as anyone.
Middle- Kayliegh Garrepy - North Kingstown - So. - Spacing and timing is top tier. Have to send two blockers to try to slow her down, especially in transition.
Pin- Keira Mullen - East Providence - Jr. - Does everything but take tickets at the door. Arm has lots of pop and defensively is quite good. Sets at a solid level as well!
Setter- Caitlin Mediate - Portsmouth - Sr. - Has the best location on her sets, giving attackers great swing 90% of the time. All-around game rivals Syd and Tess.
Libero- Syd Henson - North Kingstown - Sr. - Has been defensive phenom since her sophomore year. Reads plays quite well and hardly gets beat from the service line. May be setting this year!?!
Utility - Lyla Auth - Westerly - Jr. - Similar sentiment to Keira Mullen. Just does a bunch of everything for her side and does it well.
Second Team:
Pin- Ava Sardelli - North Kingstown - Sr. - Solid all-around game, especially on the pass and serve side of it.
Pin- Maisy Naff - LaSalle Academy - Jr. - Dynamic and effective, Naff can hold the fort down for any team on the pin.
Middle- McKenzie Clery - Burrillville - Sr. - Physical middle armed with solid vision and the ability to close blocks effectively.
Middle- Elyssa Lacross - Coventry - Sr. - Has shots in the middle and plays an all-around solid game in the middle.
Pin- Sarah Wilcox - Mt. Hope - Jr. - Has a great chance to lead D2 in kills. Overall game has become quite solid.
Setter- Alexandra Spinella - South Kingstown - Sr. - Steady presence at the helm of an offense. Puts up a hittable ball and is able to track down passing that miss the mark well.
Libero- Sofia D’Agostino - LaSalle Academy - Jr. - Will rival Syd Henson this year for Libero of the year (if Syd plays Lib). Passes better than advertised and makes remarkable defensive plays.
Utility- Emma McCrann - Barrington - Jr. - Will probably take Kasey Dillon’s roles as top weapon for the Eagles.
2024 ResV Preason Top Five Players in the State:
Syd Henson - Libero - North Kingstown - Sr. - Hearing rumors she is setting this season which no doubt she’ll be at the top of the class at that position as well.
Caitlin Mediate - Setter - Portsmouth - Sr. - Very few have the ability to run an offense like Caitlin.
Tess LeFrenier - Pin - North Kingstown - Sr. - In my estimation the best arm in the state that can score in so many ways off so many different situations.
Kiera Mullen - Pin / S - East Providence - Jr. - Multifaceted, with a strong arm and a great feel for the game.
Lyla Auth - Pin / S - Westerly - Jr. - May be the next premier setter and also has the ability to play pin or middle at top level in the league.
To send updates, stories, and players college decisions…or inquire about coffee beans that Coach roasts himself, to Coach Reslow - Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com
Coaches! Please feel free to reach out if interested in scheduling some time to talk shop! I’d love to help your program out!
