Week Ten…Rollercoaster Finals Crown Eagles, Tigers, and Rams…Oh My…
6/9/24
Championship day(s) are always bittersweet for me. Or maybe a better way to put it, when the season ends it’s bittersweet. Whether coaching a team or in this instance, covering a league, once the end comes…it comes with a small shock of finality. It’s normal.
The cycle that every season follows starts with hope and excitement. It then pivots to analysis and adjustment. Following that comes the grind. The grind is the hardest part. Everyone loves the beginning and coaches tend to really enjoy the analysis and adjustment part. The grind however is when you wake up every day knowing you have to do the job and there is a major struggle to get yourself there. Habit and routine help, but it’s still a slog. The newness is gone. The intrigue is gone. The dreaded malaise statements of “It is what it is.” “We are what we are.” come out.
There is also the second guessing aimed at you from outside your environment of work in the grind. It’s common in our sport. It’s common in any sport. In life outside of sport… It’s why it’s way more fun to be an assistant coach than the head guy. Giving information for what you think should happen when you’re not running the show…can’t beat it. Hell, I know I’m guilty of it. Standing from afar, watching teams perform, analyzing quickly the personnel and deciding what they could do to improve their side…it’s what consulting is, but it also usually comes when a team or business is in the grind. “We’ve hit malaise, quick bring in a consultant to perk us up!”
However, most consultants, coaches like me in this situation…we don’t know what’s going on in a team’s practice gym. We don’t know the ins and outs of the organization truly. We don’t know the trials and tribulations of the players and coaches that have brought them to the point they are at. All we know is that we’ve done it a long time, have recognized the patterns that have worked for us and for the top teams we’ve chased, and want to relay that information to help…at least that’s my motivation (whether you believe it or not).
After the grind comes the end. The end is quick and swift. Like the line from the now old Pirates of Carribean movie…“a short drop and a sudden stop.” Playoffs are the end of the line for everyone. Some go early, some hold out a couple more times to play for all the marbles. All stop suddenly. Maybe that’s another reason why sports are so beloved in the world. It’s practice for what’s to come. I’ve heard it described by some philosophers that we live many lives…which means we also die many times. We get reborn and are changed. Another way of putting it is we fail, experience, and act in the season… and from that we learn, becoming new people in the process, hopefully destined to not make the same mistakes twice.
Once it’s done, however, and all the choices were made, and all the agreements and disagreements have been issued, and rest is finally here…it’ll only takes a week, maybe two, to get the urge to get back to it. To see what happens next. To discover who the next big players are. To watch how coaches from across the state, to across the country, to across the world design their schemes. To see how competition, hard work, decisions, strategy, tactics, personalities, heroes, villains, moderators, and all of the big and obvious factors down to the small minutia of intricate choices play into another year of volleyball.
I’ll be in…
Thank you for reading as always!
Hope to see you all at the ResV Charity All-Star Match on Saturday!
D3 Final…
The revenge tour of Tolman/Shea reached its climax on Saturday when the boys from Pawtucket battled with Central Falls on an early summer day on a college campus in the afternoon. Central Falls, armed with arguably the top player in Division three in Jamilson De Pina Almeida, looked to spoil the vengeance tour…in my mind, only Jamilson and crew had the ability to do so. As the match unfolded, however, it became clear that Tolman/Shea’s gameplan was solid. I loved seeing triple blocking from the Pawtucket side as they wore down Central Falls. In the end, the mission was completed, and the Tigers are you 2024 state champions!
All Playoff Team…
MVP - Julio Correia (Tolman/Shea)
Jean-Lucas Barroso (Tolman/Shea)
Fernando Baptista (Tolman/Shea)
Jamilson De Pina Almeida (Central Falls)
Jovanny Lopez (Central Falls)
Sean Wilkey (Portsmouth)
Cristian Caceres (Juanita Sanchez)
Unsung Heroes of the Match…
Bryan Leon (Tolman/Shea)
Jim Bornelus (Tolman/Shea)
Bara Diop (Tolman/Shea)
Keandro Pinto (Central Falls)
Odair Teixeira Da Rosa (Central Falls)
D2 Final…
This match symbolized the famous saying in coaching, “It’s really hard to beat a good team three times in a season.” Cranston West seemed to haunt the minds of Barrington due to how the regular season unfolded. The CW took the win at home early on in a five-set thriller and the idea for the Eagles was…wait till we get them at home! Then the CW went to Barrington later in the season and smoked the Eagles. Not good. So, as this one started and the Falcons won the first set, the thought was, well, here we go again. But we did not go again… In fact, Barrington played some of their best volleyball of the season! They broke through in set two, then were in control in set three and four. Cranston West fought to reclaim the momentum, but in the end…too much Barrington.
All Playoff Team…
MVP - Jimmy Ciummo (Barrington)
Cam Kelley (Barrington)
Max Oberacker (Barrington)
Chris Harvey (Cranston West)
Christian Mak (Cranston West)
DJ Lepine (East Providence)
Wayne McNamara (Lincoln)
Unsung Heroes of the Match…
Evan Katsinas (Barrington)
Logan Lane (Barrington)
Luke Andsager (Barrington)
Henry De La Zerda (Cranston West)
Michael Harvey (Cranston West)
D1 Final…
If any match of the championship days was like a movie, this would be the one. It had it all…two teams that couldn’t be more different tactically, an injury to a top player who was no longer available, controversial plays and decisions, cards given, an epic comeback, and more. The range of emotions was all over the place for the fans and players in this one as North Kingstown had to battle a stout net team in LaSalle down a starter. LaSalle played with high emotions, sometimes too high, and while they were able to manhandle the Skippers in sets two and three, the Rams still found themselves in a fifth set. At one point, LaSalle was up 7 - 1 in the fifth, but the Skippers would not go quietly into the night even in that scenario! At 14 all in the fifth, there was a thought that the Skippers may wiggle off the hook and still be victorious… The ball, however, bounced in LaSalle’s favor (half an inch, maybe?) and the back-to-back operation for the Rams finished once again with them standing alone on the mountain top.
All Playoff Team…
MVP - Ephraim Abhulime (LaSalle Academy)
Jahmir Evans (LaSalle Academy)
David Green (LaSalle Academy)
Cody Tow (North Kingstown)
Quinlan Fahy (North Kingstown)
Charles Pincince (Cranston East)
Tom Matchett (North Smithfield)
Unsung Heroes of the Match…
Eliseo Nogueras III (LaSalle Academy)
Jayden Simao (LaSalle Academy)
Chris Benell (LaSalle Academy)
James Erwin (North Kingstown)
Jackson Meier (North Kingstown)
The Third Annual ResV Systems Charity All-Star Match is on June 15th at East Greenwich High School! 9:30am start for the Girls Match, 1:30pm start for the Boys Match. Over 50 student athletes participating! First usage of the Super Point! Fan games between sets three and four (Bounce Contest, Ace Jack Pincince, and more)! Portion of the Proceeds go to the Tomorrow Fund! See you all there!
Many Thanks to our Sponsors of the ResV All-Star Match…South County Volleyball Club, New England AAU, Lost Traveler, A+ Kettlecorn, Envy Volleyball Club, KG Podcast, and Lockdown Volleyball Club!
2024 RI Boys Volleyball ResV Year End Awards:
D3:
ResV Player of the Year - Jamilson De Pina Almeida - Jr. - Utility - (Central Falls)
Runner Up - Julio Correia - Sr. - Pin - (Tolman/Shea)
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ResV Coach of the Year - Steve Bevilacqua / Jeff Ramos (Tolman/Shea)
Runner Up - Lisa Zabel (Portsmouth)
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ResV Defensive Player of the Year - Jean-Lucas Barroso (Tolman/Shea)
Runner Up - Felipe Hernandez (Central Falls)
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ResV Setter of the Year - Porter Fisher (Scituate)
Runner Up - Fernando Baptista (Tolman/Shea)
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ResV Newcomer of the Year - Eliah Torres - So. - Pin/Middle - (Juanita Sanchez)
Runner Up - Jovanny Lopez - So. - Setter - (Central Falls)
D2:
ResV Player of the Year - Jack Kenyon - Sr. - Pin - (Westerly)
Runner Up - Chris Harvey - Sr. - Pin - (Cranston West)
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ResV Coach of the Year - Jenn Ferencko (Cranston West)
Runner Up - Lyndsey Sweeney (Lincoln)
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ResV Defensive Player of the Year - Jet Nascimento - Sr. - Pin - (Central)
Runner Up - Luke Van Ness - Sr. - Libero - (Barrington)
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ResV Setter of the Year - Loden Broe - Sr. - (East Providence)
Runner Up - Sang Min Park - Sr. - (Barrington)
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ResV Newcomer of the Year - Ashton Mak - So. -Setter - (Cranston West)
Runner Up - Jordan Rodrigues - So. - Pin - (East Providence)
D1:
ResV Co-Player of the Year - Ryan Harrington - Jr. - Pin - (North Kingstown)
ResV Co-Player of the Year - Ephraim Abhulime - Sr. - Pin - (LaSalle Academy)
Runner Up - Charles Pincince - Jr. Pin - (Cranston East)
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ResV Coach of the Year - Jhamal Diggs (Cranston East)
Runner Up - Brian Hesford (North Kingstown)
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ResV Defensive Player of the Year - Quinlan Fahy - Sr. - Middle - (North Kingstown)
Runner Up - Larry Yin - Sr. - Libero - (Cranston East)
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ResV Setter of the Year - Caden Sullivan - Sr. - (North Smithfield)
Runner Up - Ben Warr - Jr. - (Bishop Hendricken)
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ResV Newcomer of the Year - Andrew Ramos - So. - Middle - (Bishop Hendricken)
Runner Up - Dennis Dixon - Jr. - Middle - (Cranston East)
Overall:
Player of the Year - Jack Kenyon - Sr. - Pin - (Westerly)
Runner Up - Ryan Harrington - Jr. - Pin - (North Kingstown)
Runner Up - Ephraim Abhulime - Sr. - Pin - (LaSalle Academy)
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Coach of the Year - Jhamal Diggs (Cranston East)
Runner Up - Steve Bevilacqua / Jeff Ramos (Tolman/Shea)
Runner Up - Brian Hesford (North Kingstown)
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Defensive Player of the Year - Quinlan Fahy - Sr. - Middle - (North Kingstown)
Runner Up - Jet Nascimento - Sr. - Pin - (Central)
Runner Up - Stephen Dufour - Jr. - Libero - (North Kingstown)
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Setter of the Year - Caden Sullivan - Sr. - (North Smithfield)
Runner Up - Ben Warr - Jr. - (Bishop Hendricken)
Runner Up - Loden Broe - Sr. - (East Providence)
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Newcomer of the Year - Andrew Ramos - So. - Middle - (Bishop Hendricken)
Runner Up - Ashton Mak - So. -Setter - (Cranston West)
Runner Up - Jordan Rodrigues - So. - Pin - (East Providence)
2024 RI Boys Volleyball All-ResV Teams:
First Team All-ResV:
Pin - Jack Kenyon - Sr. - Westerly (Committed to Wheaton College in MA)
Pin - Ryan Harrington - Jr. - North Kingstown
Pin - Cody Tow - Jr. - North Kingstown
Middle - Tom Matchett - Sr. - North Smithfield (Verbally Committed to Wheaton College in MA)
Middle - Quinlan Fahy - Sr. - North Kingstown (Committed to University of Maine)
Setter - Caden Sullivan - Sr. - North Smithfield (Committed to Wentworth Institute of Technology)
Libero - Stephen Dufour - Jr. - North Kingstown
Utility - Ephraim Abhulime - Sr. - LaSalle Academy (Committed to Merrimack College)
Second Team All-ResV:
Pin - Charles Pincince - Jr. - Cranston East
Pin - Jet Nascimento - Sr. - Central (Committed to Rhode Island College)
Pin - Jahmir Evans - Jr. - LaSalle Academy
Middle - Teddy Wallace - Sr. - Classical (Committed to CCRI)
Middle - Jimmy Ciummo - Sr. - Barrington (Committed to Wheaton College in MA)
Setter - Ben Warr - Jr. - Bishop Hendricken
Libero - Larry Yin - Sr. - Cranston East (Committed to University of Rhode Island)
Utility - Chris Harvey - Sr. - Cranston West (Committed to Dartmouth University)
Third Team All-ResV:
Pin - Cam Kelley - Sr. - Barrington (Committed to the University of Florida)
Pin - Jacob Agramonte - Jr. - Classical
Pin - Christian Mak - Sr. - Cranston West (Committed to University of Rhode Island)
Middle - Connor Lewis - Sr. - LaSalle Academy (Committed to Rhode Island College)
Middle - Andrew Ramos - So. - Bishop Hendricken
Setter - Caleb Xum - Jr. - Cranston East
Libero - Ben Sousa - Sr. - North Smithfield (Committed to Notre Dame)
Utility - Jamilson De Pina Almeida - Jr. - Central Falls
Fourth Team All-ResV:
Pin - DJ Lepine - Sr. - East Providence (Committed to the University of Rhode Island)
Pin - Carlos Lora - Sr. - Cranston East (Committed to CCRI)
Pin - Connor DeSousa - Sr. - North Smithfield (Committed to Nichols College)
Middle - Travis Plante - Sr. - Chariho (Signed with Electric Boat)
Middle - Dennis Dixon - Jr. - Cranston East
Setter - Ali Abdur-Razzak - Sr. - LaSalle Academy (Committed to Brown University)
Libero - Santiago Harrington - Jr. - Bishop Hendricken
Utility - Wayne McNamara - Sr. - Lincoln (Committed to Brown University)
Fifth Team All-ResV:
Pin - Jordan Rodrigues - Jr. - East Providence
Pin - Masiah Prak-Preaster - Jr. - Coventry
Pin - Ryan Rathbun - Jr. - North Kingstown
Middle - Jackson Colton - Jr. - Lincoln
Middle - David Green - Jr. - LaSalle Academy
Setter - James Men - Sr. - Classical (Committed to the University of Rhode Island)
Libero - Spencer Warburton - Sr. - East Greewich (Committed to University of Connecticut)
Utility - Kody Poplaski - Jr. - Chariho
Honorable Mentions (In no particular order):
Max Silverman - Sr. - Setter - East Greenwich (Committed to University of Connecticut)
Austin Scotti - Sr. - Pin - Toll Gate (Committed to CCRI)
Ashton Mak - So. - Setter - Cranston West
Loden Broe - East Providence - Sr. (Committed to Curry College)
Michael Dobrzanski - Sr. - Pin - East Greenwich (Committed to University of Rhode Island)
Tyler Biddle - So. - Pin - Lincoln
Julio Correia - Sr. - Pin - Tolman/Shea
Cole Arsenault - Sr. - Pin - East Greenwich (Committed to Wheaton College in Norton, MA)
Evan Shea - Jr. - Setter - North Kingstown
Austin Noel - Sr. - Setter - Lincoln (Committed to University of Connecticut)
Porter Fisher - Jr. - Setter - Scituate
Henry Kenyon - So. - Middle - Westerly
Cam Dotter - So. - Libero - Coventry
Logan Reed - Sr. - Libero - Cranston West (Committed to Nova Southeastern)
Brandon Mimande - Jr. - Pin - East Providence
Max Oberacker - Sr. - Middle - Barrington (Committed to Syracuse University)
Chris Benell - Jr. - Middle - LaSalle Academy
Finn Kearney - Sr. - Setter - North Kingstown (Committed to Florida Atlantic University)
Jacques Guerrier - Sr. - Libero - Lincoln (Committed to Florida Institute of Technology)
Sang Min Park - Sr. - Setter - Barrington
Ian Nascimento - So. - Pin - Classical
Ty Cotta - Jr. - Libero - LaSalle Academy
Jeraldy Herrera Santos - Jr. - Libero - Classical
Luke Van Ness - Sr. - Libero - Barrington (Committed to Boston University)
Fernando Baptista - Jr. - Setter - Tolman/Shea
Quinn Sposato - Jr. - Pin - Chariho
Luke Andsager - Sr. - Pin - Barrington (Committed to Northwestern University)
Jasper Hoefferle - Jr. - Middle - Classical
Jayden Yang - Fr. - Setter - North Kingstown
To send updates, stories, and players college decisions…or inquire about coffee beans that Coach roasts himself, to Coach Reslow - Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com
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