Top Five Established in Week Six…
May 15th, 2022
With the end of the regular season in sight, the top five teams in the power rankings are starting to solidify their positions. La Salle, with only one blemish (a loss to Chariho upon visiting the cave) has held tight on the top spot since North Kingstown abdicated in week three. The cleaner Jack Johnson plays, the tougher it will be for anyone to knock them down. North has bounced twice, dropping as low as four, but is now holding the second spot. Mason Andrade is carrying the heavy load for the Skippers. He’s also just that good. Third, is held by the Chargers of Chariho, led by possible player of the year Tyler White, Chariho is the only team to take down La Salle and has three college ready players on the squad with Matt Tiernan and Matt Beaudry adding to Tyler. The Thunderbolts of Cranston East hold fourth. CE has highflyer Jordan Bou who can stack kills in the 20s, while setter Vincent Yin is as crafty as they get. The duo, along with a decent supporting cast is putting up numbers and vics. Lastly, in the fifth spot is Hendricken. Hendricken earned the name puzzle breakers from their ability to put pressure on everyone they play. Evan Dion has turned into a top middle in the state and BGJ is a setter that can score whenever he likes. Chariho does seem to be their kryptonite, however.
We’ll need some upsets to really rock these rankings, but that’s why we play the games because anything can happen, and nothing is set in stone.
La Salle (12 - 1) - Following their toughest week, the Rams had their easiest one. With only Cranston West to deal with in week six, La Salle did the job and began resting up for week seven when the Skippers come to the mountain top looking to reclaim. Brendan Pendergast paced the Rams with 10 kills and 10 digs.
North Kingstown (11 - 2) - The Skippers also had a relatively painless sixth week. Contests with Classical and East Greenwich were handled with relative precision as Mason Andrade amassed 23 kills on the week hitting a .517 for both matches. The beasts above and below in these power rankings are waiting for them in week seven, however.
Chariho (11 - 3) - The Chargers had a tougher week then expected as both Hendricken and Coventry came to the cave for some dancing lessons. For some reason, the puzzle breakers have little answer for Chariho, and this round up was no different. The surprise came from the Oakers who had some opportunities to escape the cave in five. In the end, Tyler White continued his MVP campaign generating 42 kills, averaging 5.2 kills per set, and hitting a .330 for the week to keep the sheet clean.
Cranston East (8 - 5) - The Thunderbolts had a three-win week handing losses out to East Greenwich, Cranston West and South Kingstown. CE does have a date with a tough Coventry team in week seven, however, it’s week eight that’s brutal with La Salle and Hendricken.
Hendricken (8 - 5) - The puzzle breakers from Warwick only a had a single game on the docket for the sixth week. It just happened to be with the one team that appears to have their number. The Hawks traveled to the cave and ran into that same brick wall that hit them early in the season. Hendricken had more kills, assists, and digs in the match then Chariho…however the Chargers dominated from the service line topping the teams in aces, and more importantly, blocks. Evan Dion, Matt Brock, and Ryan Osley all had 10 or more kills on the day, which is necessary, but the blocking must improve for Hendricken to topple the top four.
Coventry (6 - 7) - The Oakers are quickly becoming the team no one wants to play come playoff time. Featuring two tough middles, talented lefts, a setter who can ball, and a solid lib, Coventry is growing into the team ResV felt they were at the beginning. Week six was weird as one of the matches for them was postponed due to a floor issue, but the real story is the Oakers going to the cave and almost taking down Chariho in five.
MSC / NS (12 - 0) - The Hybrid keeps on rolling and also climbing the power rankings. Week six was a standard three match sweep with Barrington and others being turned away. Week seven is the interesting week, besides playoffs, as the North Mountie Men see East Providence, Pilgrim, and Westerly all on the road. If the Hybrid is to lose in the D2 regular season, this is the week.
East Greenwich (5 - 8) - The Avengers long for the days when they were splitting matches each week. Unfortunately, they’re on a three-match losing streak as the schedule hasn’t been kind. Facing Cranston East and NK in a week is a tall order and the Avengers were just not able to make enough plays to stay in those matches. Max Silverman desperately needs another arm to emerge as Brayden Stanger is probably getting overworked.
East Providence (11 - 2) - The Townies had an interesting week as they handled business against Central and then found themselves in an all-out slobber knocker with Westerly afterwards. The five-set win over the bulldogs provided a little separation from Pilgrim for the second seed in D2. With the Hybrid match leading off week seven, Grant Wosencroft, and company, will look to dish defeat to the unblemished.
Pilgrim (11 - 3) - With a three-win week, the Patriots are feeling pretty good going into their toughest week of the schedule. The Barrington five setter was hairy, but the Patriots, who are no stranger to five set matches, came out on top. Week seven has the Hybrid coming to town as well as a visit to East Providence…meaning week seven could shake up everything. John Mixner will look to lead his crew to upset city and cement that this year’s championship dream runs through Pilgrim.
Cranston West (4 - 10) - Bad luck and errant hitting has been the bane of Cranston West’s existence this year. The Falcons are on a four-match losing streak and the schedule does not get kinder from here. The Falcons have Hendricken and Chariho in week seven and NK and EG in week eight. The Falcons now have to play the role of spoiler, which is something they do have the talent to do. Keeping the ball in play will be key.
Westerly (9 - 4) - The Bulldogs suffered their first five set defeat at the hands of the Townies of East Providence at home after being up two games to none. No question there are moments that Westerly would love to have back in that one. West Warwick is up next on the road, and you never know which Wizard team you’re going to get, but Westerly will look to avenge their earlier three set loss to them. Afterwards, they get a shot at the Hybrid at home.
Lincoln (12 - 0) - The Lions continue to run away with the D3 division. Exter West Greenwich was able to steal a game from them in their match…it was the first set they’ve lost since the first match of the season. The horizon has a big match with Johnston coming on Monday. Should Lincoln hand the Panthers a defeat, it’s likely that the Lions will go into the playoffs without a drop.
Johnston (10 - 1) - The Panthers have one defeat, and that was at the hands of Lincoln early in the season. Since then, Johnston has only lost a set and are on a seven-match winning streak. Even though their match with Lincoln is on the road on Monday, one has to think they’re primed to give the Lions a run.
West Warwick (7 - 5) - The Wizards are a wild card in almost every definition of the word. When they’re good, you’re in for a long night. When things are backward, they can give away weird matches that they shouldn’t. The Jeckel and Hyde vibe they have will be interesting, especially come playoff time. With bad losses to Woonsocket and Barrington, and good wins to Westerly and Pilgrim, the resume is weird…however, they have chances to upend the table with 90% playoff teams ahead in the coming weeks.
Coaches in the running for ResV Systems RI boy’s volleyball Coach of the Year…
Mike Harrington (Hendricken) - Coach Harrington has once again put his team in a position to battle for the RI Boys’ Volleyball crown. None of his student athletes played club in the off season and the majority of his team have volleyball as their second sport of interest. You cannot beat a Harrington coached team easily and Hendricken 90% of the time makes your team uncomfortable to the end.
Jack Pincince (Chariho) - Yes, Pincince walked into a situation with a top left side attacker, a top middle, and a top setter in the state, but you need six on the floor and everyone is trying to work his second three. He’s developed his roster and Chariho is the only team to hand La Salle a defeat, and for some reason they have Hendricken’s number as well.
Jhamal Diggs (Cranston East) - Diggs came into his situation with a school wide tragedy and two all-state caliber players. Add that one of his horses got hurt early…so adjustments had to be made. Through it all, Cranston East is a tough out and when they’re hot you’re chances of winning turn low. This is easily the best CE team in a long time…and Coach Diggs has them hungry.
Brian Hesford (North Kingstown) - Hesford had the best team far and away last season and there wasn’t much doubt how that story was going to end. This year, he’s considerably lighter in the level, but he still has arguably the top player in the state along with young talent that is playing major roles. Add to that role players are growing into feature guys and it’s another good year for the Skipper’s skipper.
Nik Wojciechowski (La Salle) - Wojo has the most complete team in the state. He’s got four guys who have played club in the off season and he’s got size in the middle plus arms on both side of the net in every rotation. There’s only been one blemish thus far and that was their trip to the cave, though they’ve already gotten their revenge on Chariho. Wojo has kept his guys on task thus far…playoffs will be the real test.