RI Boys Volleyball Ready for 2024 Season…
3/18/24
In the world of Rhode Island boys’ volleyball, there are two things that are certain…passing will decide most of the matches, and serving will be the battering ram for the top teams. 2024 should be no different than years past as the top teams vying for the cup will have premier serving in their arsenal with solid enough passing to keep the wolves at bay. Consistency will be the decider, as it often is.
Defending champs, LaSalle Academy Rams, will lead the league in blocks and have the most dominant middle tandem since before the blip. North Kingstown will own the service line putting maximum pressure on teams with darts to start, and perhaps finish, rallies. North Smithfield may lead the league in ball control, armed with two very good passers and arguably the top setter in the state. Barrington may go undefeated in Division II as many of last year’s top four have been depleted due to graduation…oh, and the Eagles have weapons everywhere plus a great barn to dissect the competition. Lastly, people will sleep on Cranston East at their own peril. The Bolts have pieces to the puzzle and should be a tough out for every single team in the state they see.
Potentially, a new rule may also rear its ugly head…with the NCAA making the decision to remove the “double contact” from women’s volleyball in 2024, it’s possible that this may bleed to men’s and boys’ volleyball this season. In this boy’s season, officials may decide to let some doubles go in a preview of what is to be featured on the juxtaposed season. For my view on the rule change, you can read this lengthy article entitled, “Volleyball is Beautiful, Just the Way it Is". Regardless of my views on the rule change, one could see some weird rallies, an adjustment period, followed by, perhaps, the wild west of anything goes when setting the ball…which could be a story line of its own as some like this change while others disagree. Again, it’s worth noting that this rule is not in place at the current moment nor is scheduled to be implemented until the women’s season.
It’s a new season with infinite possibilities…and ResV will be there to give the most in depth coverage of it all. ResV weekly articles will premier every Monday, generally in the afternoon. Also, ResV is debuting three new half hour shows throughout the 10-week season…First is a show called, “Coach, I Don’t Have It” featuring regional official John O’Brien, Mondays at 6pm. Second show is “Ben and I Save the World” with the legendary coach and official Ben Lind…Wednesday’s at 6pm. Lastly, “A Guide for the Guides” will be on Friday at 6pm, a show for parents and navigating the club and high school worlds of sports (primarily volleyball) starring Heather Evans, former pro volleyballer and current recruiting coach at NCSA.
Let’s begin with the ResV version of preseason All-American list…
Preseason All-State Predictions…
(1st Team)
OH - Jet Nascimento - 6’3 - Sr. - Central
OH - Ryan Harrington - 5’9 - Jr. - North Kingstown
MB - Ephraim Abhulime - 6’6 - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
MB - Tom Matchett - 6’5 - Sr. - North Smithfield
Opp - Jack Kenyon - 6’6 - Sr. - Westerly
S - Caden Sullivan - 6’4 - Sr. - North Smithfield
L - Jeraldy Herrera Santos - 5’7 - Jr. - Classical
U - Connor DeSousa - 6’1 - Sr. - North Smithfield
(2nd Team)
OH - Cam Kelley - 6’2 - Sr. - Barrington
OH - Cody Tow - 6’0 - Jr. - North Kingstown
MB - James Ciummo - 6’4 - Sr. - Barrington
MB - Connor Lewis - 6’7 - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
Opp - Charlie Pincince - 6’3 - Jr. - Cranston East
S - Ali Abdur-Razzak - 6’5 - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
L - Stephen Dufour - 5’10 - Jr. - North Kingstown
U - Caleb Xum - 5’10 - Jr. - Cranston East
(3rd Team)
OH - Logan Voelker - 6’4 - Sr. - Coventry
OH - DJ Lepine - 6’0 - Sr. - East Providence
MB - Quinlan Fahy - 6’8 - Sr. - North Kingstown
MB - Chris Harvey - 6’2 - Sr. - Cranston West
S - Max Silverman - 6’1 - Sr. - East Greenwich
Opp - Teddy Wallace - 6’2 - Sr. - Classical
L - Ben Sousa - 5’8 - Sr. - North Smithfield
U - Jacob Agramonte - 6’1 - Jr. - Classical
ResV Preseason Top 15…
La Salle Academy - Big everywhere, and will own the net, but can they pass well enough to hold the top spot from start to finish? Who mans the left sides will be interesting.
North Kingstown - One big guy and smaller, bouncy guys everywhere else…note, they serve absolute missiles and play scrappy like hyenas in the Savanah.
North Smithfield - Arguably the best hands in the state, and they are a collective group of cool experienced ballers.
Barrington - Best built team in the state. Weapons everywhere and will send four early and often to overwhelm your blockers.
Cranston East - If the pieces are in the right spot, this puzzle could be a nightmare for opponents…plus Cranston East’s court is no picnic destination for teams.
Classical - Best barn in the state. Environment is electric every time the Purple take the floor. Plenty of wins coming this year.
Cranston West - Falcons lost some key components from last year’s finals run, but still have a core that can play at a high level and new additions that will help immediately.
Lincoln - Cinderella is back on the scene with a new coach and different pieces. Problem is now everyone is well aware what a certain pin can do after last year’s run.
East Greenwich - They likely will be missing a huge piece come opening day, so the hope is to win the ones they should until fully healthy and then play their best volleyball in the second half.
East Providence - Quietly they have a very good team ready to surprise. Another team worthy of the thought…take them for granted at your own peril.
Chariho - 2023 Player of the year is playing college ball, so the Chargers will be different. Still have a great home court advantage and players to go with it.
Westerly - The brothers Grimm will be very tough to stop. Question will be can they take enough swings to carry each match.
Central - Armed with arguably the top arm in the state, Central will once again be a tough out for whomever they play.
Johnston - Graduation has taken some pieces, but the Panthers should be in decent shape to continue success into the 2024 season.
Tolman / Shea - With plenty of reason and motivation to get back to the big game, expect the boys from Pawtucket to play with a reasonable chip on their shoulders.
Getting Votes… Bishop Hendricken, Central Falls, Juanita Sanchez, St. Raphael’s, Woonsocket, Coventry
Matches in Week One to Watch…
Thursday - 3/28/24 - 6:30pm - Classical (#6) at North Smithfield (#3)
Saturday - 3/30/24 - 12:30pm - Cranston East (#5) at La Salle Academy (#1)
Tuesday - 4/2/24 - 6:30pm - Central (#13) at Barrington (#4)
Tuesday - 4/2/24 - 6:30pm - East Providence (#10) at Westerly (#12)
Wednesday - 4/3/24 - 6:30pm - North Kingstown (#2) at Cranston East (#5)
Wednesday - 4/3/24 - 6:30pm - La Salle Academy (#1) at East Greenwich (#9)
Thursday - 4/4/24 - 6:30pm - Barrington (#4) at Cranston West (#7)
Thursday - 4/4/24 - 6:30pm - Westerly (#12) at Lincoln (#8)
Friday - 4/5/24 - 6pm - Classical (#6) at Chariho (#11)
Friday - 4/5/24 - 6:30pm - North Kingstown (#2) at East Greenwich (#9)
Players to Watch…
(Assuming no injuries or other extenuating circumstances)
Ephraim Abhulime - MB - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
Jet Nascimento - Pin - Sr. - Central
Jack Kenyon - Pin - Sr. - Westerly
Ryan Harrington - Pin - Jr. - North Kingstown
Cody Tow - Pin - Jr. — North Kingstown
Caden Sullivan - S - Sr. - North Smithfield
Connor DeSousa - Pin - Sr. - North Smithfield
Maddox Goodwin - Pin - Sr. - Barrington
Charlie Pincince - Pin - Jr. - Cranston East
Thomas Matchett - MB - Sr. - North Smithfield
Quinlan Fahy - MB - Sr. - North Kingstown
Ali Abdur-Razzak - S - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
James Men - S - Sr. - Classical
Mike Dobrzanski - Pin - Sr. - East Greenwich
Logan Voelker - Pin - Sr. - Coventry
Max Silverman - S - Sr. - East Greenwich
DJ Lepine - Pin - Sr. - East Providence
Carlos Lora - Pin - Sr. - Cranston East
Cam Kelley - Pin - Sr. - Barrington
Caleb Xum - L/S - Jr. - Cranston East
Ben Sousa - L - Sr. - North Smithfield
Christian Mak - Opp - Sr. - Cranston West
Luke Van Ness - L - Sr. - Barrington
G’ovani Collazo - L/Pin - Sr. - Woonsocket
Chris Harvey - MB - Sr. - Cranston West
Connor Lewis - MB - Sr. - LaSalle Academy
Austin Scotti - Pin - Sr. - Toll Gate
James Ciummo - MB - Sr. - Barrington
Jacob Agramonte - Pin - Jr. - Classical
Jahmir Evans - Pin - Jr. - LaSalle Academy
Stephen Dufour - L - Jr. - North Kingstown
Ben Warr - S/Pin - Jr. - Bishop Hendricken
Jordan Rodriguez - Pin - Jr. - East Providence
Ryan Rathbun - Pin - Jr. - North Kingstown
Cam Dottor - L - So. - Coventry
Henry Kenyon - MB/Pin - So. - Westerly
Ashton Mak - S - So. - Cranston West
Wayne McNamara - Pin - Sr. - Lincoln
Cole Arsenault - MB - Sr. - East Greenwich
Travis Plante-Mullen - MB - Sr. - Chariho
Teddy Wallace - Pin/MB - Sr. - Classical
Jeraldy Herrera Santos - L - Jr. - Classical
Masiah Prak-Preaster - Pin - Jr. - Coventry
Kody Poplaski - S - Jr. - Chariho
Loden Brow - S/L - Jr. - East Providence
Komong Yang - S/Pin - Sr. - Central
Porter Fisher - S - Jr. - Scituate
David Green - MB - Jr. - LaSalle Academy
Christian Riveria - S - Jr. - Cranston East
Spencer Warburton - L - Sr. - East Greenwich
Ivan Ramos - OH - Sr. - North Providence
Coaches with Teams that have Early Interesting Storylines…
Nik Wojchiechoskwi - LaSalle Academy
Jhamal Diggs - Cranston East
Donn Chu - Central
Ka Men - Classical
Dan Cabral - East Providence
Christian Lambert - Barrington
Erin Beal - Westerly
ResV Shows starting April 1st on the ResV YouTube Channel
You can text show questions live or send questions for the show to Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com
Note - Other guests may fill in if scheduled guests are unavailable…
To send season updates, stories, and players to consider…or inquire about coffee beans that Coach roasts himself, to Coach Reslow - Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com
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