Championship Saturday Crowns NK, Chariho, Bay View, and PCD…
11/15/22
Final 2022 ResV Systems HS Girls’ Volleyball Rankings…
The Championship Matches…
D4: Providence Country Day - 3 / Hope - 0 → Providence Country Day was dominant throughout the season and Championship Day made no difference. Hope High School competed, however the Knights, and especially Abigail McRoy, just would not be denied. McRoy had herself a day and was just unstoppable at the net, leading to the three-set win for PCD and the D4 crown.
D3: Central Falls 1 / Bay View 3 → Three stories emerged in this championship match. The biggest one was the ankle injury of Yulianna Hernandez, the starting setter for Central Falls. The senior battled, however, she really had lost most of her mobility and Bay View took advantage of the situation with tips and rolls to zero for 40% of their kills. Second story was based around the day that Maggie McKitchen had. McKitchen had timely kills enroute to the championship and ended the match leading the Bengals in points. Lastly, the unfortunate fact that the top player in D3 for two years in a row denied a state championship in back-to-back title games for Joana Rodrigues is tough. Rodrigues was key for both title runs for Central Falls and clearly was the top player in the league during this time period.
D2: Chariho - 3 / East Providence - 0 → The Chargers did not mess around in this one, jumping all over the Townies early and often. Jules White was dominant at the net while also incredibly solid with her ball control ensuring that any counter from EP was thwarted. The shocked Townies rallied in the third set, but too many errors plagued the attempt. Lexi Cole ran a solid offense for the Chargers mainly finding White when things got pressed. All in all, there was little doubt in this one with Chariho earning the crown and completing the complete season sweep.
D1: North Kingstown - 3 / South Kingstown - 0 → Well, as with many matches that turn into sweeps, there is always that “what if” moment that could have changed everything. For the Rebels that moment was in the first set. Having two opportunities to take the set, only to let it slip through their grasp. turned out to be heart breaking. Gaia Copelli battled as SK struggled to pass well enough to keep her in the setter box to run the offense. Credit to NK’s tough serving and game plan as the pressure was consistently put on. MacKenzie Lonergan was clutch throughout the match handling serve receive with Syd Henson. In the end, SK just couldn’t score enough to stop the steady drip of the Skipper’s brand of volleyball.
ResV Systems 2022 RI Highschool Girls’ Volleyball End of Season Awards…
ResV Player of the Year - Morgan Casey (Portsmouth, Sr.) → The journey that Portsmouth followed was unequivocally attached to Morgan Casey. She was the top middle in the state in the opinion of ResV and was easily the top weapon the Patriots utilized. Throughout Portsmouth’s run, Casey consistently dominated the net with her play and had to be schemed for by every opponent. During their amazing run at home, when all of the top teams fell to Portsmouth, Casey was key and practically unstoppable. With a solid arm, and great jump to go with, Morgan could go around or over blocks pretty regularly and put away anything that was overpassed. Her blocking was also excellent with good level at closing, even when fooled initially. Though more of track star, her value to her volleyball team and her performance against the top teams in the state earned her the 2022 ResV Player of the Year.
ResV Defensive Player of the Year - Taylor Stevenin (Coventry, Sr.) → The most challenging selection in terms of the finalists, and in the end, ResV went with Taylor Stevenin as she was a huge factor for Coventry. The Oakers were all over the map this year, however Taylor was their rock. Stevenin played a pivotal role in the upset of La Salle in the quarters and her manic defensive play kept her Coventry squad in matches night in and night out. When playing Coventry, you had to stay away from her and you also knew that many balls that would normally be down…well, they just wouldn’t be. Coach could put her on the “T” or place her in 6 and get solid defensive production which led to countless digs and counter attacks.
ResV Setter of the Year - Gaia Copelli (South Kingstown, Sr.) → When the season began, and South Kingstown was still reveling in the glow of being the defending champs, there was still the issue of the majority of the offense had graduated. Add a new coach, and there was some serious rebuilding to be done. From there, Gaia Copelli arrived, and the Rebels were able to build a roster that once again graced the final match. Copelli was the most complete setter on the year, running tempo to the pins, quicks in the middle, and was able to chase down most errant passes and still put a up a hittable ball for her attackers. Her level often carried her team, and, in the end, she left it all on the floor in the finals.
ResV Rookie of the Year - Syd Henson (North Kingstown, So.) → Getting her first varsity minutes this year, Syd Henson proved a quick study at the Libero position. Sturdy at serve receive, dynamic at picking up off-speed and rolls, solid covering, and dependable touches on hard struck balls, Henson became a vital piece to the North Kingstown run to the title. The Skippers were armed with solid blocking versus anyone hitting on the left, however, the problem doubled for opponents as anything that did get through, Henson would pick up. In the final match, she was tested often, and her level did not falter. The Skippers only graduate a few, with the majority of the squad returning…and two more years of Syd Henson controlling the ball for NK.
ResV Coach of the Year - Kathy McGeehan (Chariho) → There aren’t much harder achievements in sports then running the table in a league. From pre-season to postseason, not tasting a defeat once…it’s the type of year that all coaches sort of dream of. Those that have accomplished that feat will tell you, and I’ve known a few, that the back end of it is incredibly tough. Managing personalities, injuries, sickness, prepping for each match, executing the game plan, and making in-match decisions, takes its toll. In the end, it’s always worth it, especially if you pull it off, but it is a long haul. Coach McGeehan not only accomplished all of this in 2022, but she also left little doubt in the championship match. Thus, without question, she’s the ResV Coach of the Year.
Coach Reslow and ResV Systems, with help from Wyld Card Volleyball, would still like to host a ResV Systems All-Star match for the top 26 players in the state. Unfortunately, at this time this event is forced to postpone till after the Holidays…and may even be paired up with the RI Boys High School ResV Systems All-Star game at the end of their season. So, stay tuned and keep an eye out as the event will be a wonderful match aimed at showcasing the volleyball talent in RI as well as helping out the Tomorrow Fund charity.
To send updates, stories, or inquire about coffee beans that Coach roasts himself, to Coach Reslow - Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com