Week Six - As the Movie(s) Play Out…
10/13/24
Dear reader, you will not believe this…but I am a huge movie fan. A cinephile if you will. To me, a good movie can keep you vested and grounded for, perhaps, weeks on end. Movies can capture the imagination, showcase a different reference or viewpoint, and just allow people to shrug of the shackles of daily life for a few hours.
Good movies are hard to find these days as the stories now are based more in political theory rather than the human condition…making ludicrous amounts of money over the passion of the project. Messages over Story.
So, with that in mind, today’s article is dedicated to the movies, in my mind, that are worth watching.
I hope you enjoy and discover.
Big Stat Games of the Week…
Tess LeFrenier - Pin - North Kingstown - 13 kills, 3 aces, 8 digs vs. East Providence
Syd Henson - Setter - North Kingstown - 27 assists, 4 aces, 4 digs, 3 kills vs. East Providence : 31 assists, 7 digs vs. Cranston West
Madeline Eriksen - Pin - North Kingstown - 11 kills vs. East Providence
Maisy Naff - Pin - LaSalle Academy - 12 kills, 6 digs at South Kingstown : 16 kills, 13 digs vs. Portsmouth
Tara Dacey - Libero - Coventry - 20 digs, 3 assists at East Greenwich
India Vaughn-Hellene - Middle - South Kingstown - 8 kills, 6 blocks vs. LaSalle Academy : 14 kills vs. Westerly
Alexandra Spinella - Setter - South Kingstown - 27 assists, 4 kills, 5 digs, 2 aces vs. LaSalle Academy : 28 assists vs. Westerly
Mia Iemma - Libero - South Kingstown - 20 digs vs. LaSalle Academy : 12 digs, 5 aces vs. Classical (Achieved her 1000 career dig!) : 20 digs vs. Westerly
Caitlin Mediate - Setter - Portsmouth - 36 assists, 14 digs, 6 kills at Chariho : 25 assists, 10 digs, 6 kills, 3 aces at LaSalle Academy
Hailey Labonte - Pin - Portsmouth - 18 kills, 12 digs, 3 aces at Chariho : 15 kills, 2 aces, 16 digs, 2 blocks at LaSalle Academy
Mila Abedon - Libero - Portsmouth - 16 digs, 4 aces, 4 assists at Chariho
Sonja Beasley - Middle - Chariho - 6 kills, 10 blocks vs. Portsmouth : 7 kills, 4 blocks vs. East Greenwich
Olivia Lowell - Setter - Chariho - 30 assists vs. Portsmouth
Jasey Vachon - Libero - Chariho - 25 digs vs. Portsmouth
Olivia Venagro - Setter / Pin - Cranston West - 13 kills, 16 assists, 2 aces against Cranston East
Ameena Sarr - Setter - Lincoln - 14 assists, 4 aces vs. West Warwick
Kimi Hickey - Libero - Lincoln - 20 digs, 4 aces, 3 assists vs. West Warwick
Avery Gomes - Pin - Bay View - 16 kills, 5 aces against Exeter West Greenwich : 13 kills against Westerly
Charlotte Didie-Burke - Bay View - 30 assists, 4 aces against Exeter West Greenwich : 26 assists against Westerly
Kate Herbert - Pin - Exeter West Greenwich - 6 kills, 14 digs, 2 aces against Bay View
Aidan Reilly - Pin - Middletown - 10 kills, 9 aces, 15 digs at North Smithfield
Olivia Kestler - Setter - Middletown - 25 assists, 5 digs at North Smithfield
Maighan Parsley - Libero - Middletown - 14 digs, 4 aces at North Smithfield
Darryl Ashilaka - Pin - Cumberland - 13 kills, 9 aces vs. Pilgrim : 10 kills, 6 aces vs. Classical
Lyla Parmentier - Setter - Cumberland - 20 assists, 4 aces vs. Pilgrim
Davina Kodua - Setter - Tolman - 16 assists, 5 kills, 5 aces, 7 digs vs. St. Raphael’s : 18 assists, 7 kills, 8 digs at Narragansett : 11 kills, 17 assists, 4 aces, 21 digs vs. Ponaganset
Godiss Santos - Libero - St. Raphael’s - 16 digs at Tolman
Landa Weah - Setter - Hope - 14 assists, 9 aces, 2 kills against Davies
Deidre Delille - Libero - Davies - 12 aces, 5 digs against Hope
Mackenzie Long - Setter - 18 assists, 7 aces, 5 digs, 2 kills against Woonsocket
Eliza Vest - Pin - East Providence - 9 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces vs. Prout
Vivian Bernhardt - Pin - East Providence - 8 kills, 6 aces, 7 digs vs. Prout
Allison Guerzon - Libero - East Greenwich - 17 digs, 3 aces at Chariho
Addison Fain - Middle - East Greenwich - 10 kills, 6 blocks at Chariho
Shannon McGarty - Pin - South Kingstown - 13 aces, 5 kills vs. Classical
Aamilah Dagraca - Middle - West Warwick - 8 kills, 5 blocks vs. North Smithfield
Emma McCrann - Pin - Barrington - 11 kills, 4 aces vs. Pilgrim
Ruby Ciummo - Middle - Barrington - 11 kills vs. Pilgrim
Amelia Holmes - Middle - Pilgrim - 3 kills, 5 blocks @ Barrington
Lyla Auth - Setter / Pin - Westerly - 11 kills, 2 aces, 8 assists against Bay View : 13 kills, 9 assists, 8 dig, 2 aces at South Kingstown
Abbey Donato - Setter / Pin - Westerly - 6 kills, 4 aces, 15 assists, 6 digs at South Kingstown
Abby Allen - Middle - Mt. Hope - 12 kills, 3 blocks vs. Lincoln
Sarah Wilcox - Pin - Mt. Hope - 9 kills, 13 digs vs. Lincoln
Mia Hansen - Libero - Mt. Hope - 18 digs vs. Lincoln
Sofia Benevides - Pin - LaSalle Academy - 12 kills, 6 digs vs. Portsmouth
Myriah White - Middle - LaSalle Academy - 11 kills vs. Portsmouth
Sofia D’Agostino - Libero - LaSalle Academy - 17 digs vs. Portsmouth
Dalia Toubia - Setter - LaSalle Academy - 22 assist, 5 aces vs. Portsmouth
Grace Galvin - Middle - Portsmouth - 5 kills, 5 blocks at LaSalle Academy
Haley Conant - Pin - Block Island - 8 kills, 17 digs, 3 aces against Rogers
Dakota Littlefield - Setter - Block Island - 15 assists, 5 aces, 4 kills against Rogers
Julia Page - Pin - Rogers - 12 kills, 4 aces against Block Island
Crystal DeJesus - Setter - Central Falls - 20 assists, 4 aces, 2 digs against Narragansett
Melany Rodriguez - Libero - Central Falls - 18 digs, 3 aces against Narragansett
Nina Hamlin - Middle - Narragansett - 4 kills, 6 blocks, 12 digs against Central Falls
Scarlett Massey - Setter / Pin - 4 kills, 3 aces, 7 assists, 12 digs, 2 blocks against Central Falls
Danna Garcia - Pin - Central - 14 kills, 5 aces against Achievement First
Keisy Henriquez - Pin - Hope - 7 kills, 10 aces, 8 digs against North Providence
Big Matches Coming Up…
10/14 – Ponaganset hosting Central Falls
10/15 – East Greenwich hosting Prout
South Kingstown hosting East Providence
Lincoln hosting North Smithfield
Westerly hosting Cumberland
Narragansett hosting St. Rays
10/16 – Central hosting Toll Gate
10/17 – Prout hosting LaSalle
Barrington hosting Middletown
Mt. Hope hosting Westerly
ResV Team of the Week…
Pin- Hailey Labonte - Sr. - Portsmouth (3) – Labonte once again makes the team with another huge week for the Patriots. With a combined 33 kills, 28 digs, 5 aces over two top fifteen teams, it’s hard to envision Labonte not being a first team selection when it’s all said and done.
Pin- Darryl Ashilaka - Fr. - Cumberland - Ashilaka continues to have a stellar first season. 23 kills and 15 aces in two quality wins will do that for sure. The Clippers have been a different team since Ashilaka was inserted into the lineup and this week was another opportunity to make a case for Newcomer of the Year.
Middle- Sonja Beasley - So. - Chariho – Beasley is another candidate for the top Newcomer award. Running middle for the Chargers, she has played well and had a strong week six. Thirteen kills and fourteen blocks in two tough matches is fine work, indeed.
Middle- Abby Allen - Sr.- Mt. Hope (2) - For the second straight week, Allen runs middle for the ResV Team of the Week. Another strong outing for Allen as she put up 12 kills 3 blocks in the upset of Lincoln. Similarly to Ashilaka, Mt. Hope has been a different team since Allen has become a feature in the middle.
Pin- Aidan Reilly - Sr. – Middletown (2) – Reilly back on the team as she had a strong performance in the win over North Smithfield 10 kills, 9 aces, and 15 digs will get you on the squad…almost no questions asked.
Setter- Syd Henson - Setter - North Kingstown (3) – She’s arguably the top player in the state and continues to showcase that night in and night out. Moving from Libero, of which she was a double first team selection to setter, she now is averaging nearly 30 assists a night and does damage from the service line.
Libero- Mia Iemma - Sr.- South Kingstown (2) – Besides accumulating her 1000 career dig, Iemma has been vital in a week that the Rebels needed to have. Her 52 digs in three matches is nice and her service detail has been crucial as well.
Utility- India Vaughn-Hellene - Sr. - South Kingstown (2) – I know India has moved back to the middle primarily, but her ability to play pin as well mean Utility is a spot she can fill…and what a week it was for her and the Rebels! Huge numbers across the board with the 8 kill, 6 block performance that shocked LaSalle being the top one.
ResV Top 15…
North Kingstown (14 - 0, Wins over East Providence, Cranston West, and Chariho) – “You’re going to need a bigger boat.” This famous Jaws line is etched to the mind as clear as the theme for when the beast was near. There are very few perfect movies out there, but Jaws is certainly one of them. Adding in the nautical symbolism with the Skippers and you have a perfect marriage for the top team in the state. Question is, will anyone be able to stop this volleyball juggernaut, or will this tale end with the mighty shark owning the beach for good? “Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed…”
Portsmouth (11 - 1, Wins over Chariho and LaSalle Academy) – “By Gad, Sir, you are a character. There's never any telling what you'll say or do next, except that it's bound to be something astonishing.” Kasper remarks this to Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon after Spade spells out the bind that Kasper is in. It’s not so much that this movie is a representation of this Patriot side, for the two fit together like oil and water. No, it’s the movie quote that sticks for me. Portsmouth has character and it’s hard to know what the match will look like when the playing commences. All we do know is that it’s bound to be astonishing… With two weeks to go, will the Patriots find that pesky bird?
+1 East Providence (10 - 3. Win over Prout, Loss to North Kingstown) – “It's a long story, Willie, hurry or you don't get to hear it!” One could argue that there are only three Indiana Jones movies and they’re all top tier. Raiders of the Lost Ark is in a class of its own, but Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade are better than 99% of the films out in the wilderness. This particular quote is from Doom where Indy and Short Round are caught in a room that is shrinking with spikes and they desperately need Willie to intervene. The quote is the jump off point, but the movies are what compare to the Townies. They went perfect last year (Raiders) and now they’re in the mix a year later (Doom). They have an almost impervious foe in front of them and the adventure has many twists and turns. It’s what cinema is all about.
—1 LaSalle Academy (9 - 4, Losses to South Kingstown and Portsmouth) – “My team is on the floor.” Gene Hackman is one of the best character actors to ever do it. Whether you saw him in Unforgiven or Superman, you knew Hackman was bringing the A-game. He spent many of his movie roles as a coach of some sports team, and none were better than in Hoosiers, though The Replacements is a close second. Hoosiers is a story that reminds me of this LaSalle Club. The talent is there, and all it’s going to take is coming together and trust. No easy thing for any team. Gene always did a tremendous job of portraying all the trials and tribulations of what a coach goes through. In the end, through all the turmoil, Jimmy Chitwood hits the game winner off the picket fence… Could that type of fairy tale ending be in store for the Rams?
Prout (11 - 5, Win over Westerly, Loss to East Providence) – “We’re contenders now!” My favorite coach in all movie history is Lou Brown from Major League. From his hesitance of accepting the job to how he deals with his players, especially Dorn. The team makes a giant run to almost win the pennant (do they win it?). They go from no one knowing who they are and attendance being small, to giving the city of Cleveland a buzz and ultimately giving American Express the desire to cast them in a commercial. The above quote is from Lou, in the commercial. It’s the second to last thing side before the final, “American Express, don’t steal home without it!” The Crusaders kind of have this feel…as much as any of these examples compare to the movies I select for them (absolutely a loose connection to say the least). From lean years to contenders, Prout has brought the buzz back.
Barrington (12 - 2, Wins over Pilgrim and Burrillville) – “I kept dreaming of a world I thought I'd never see. And then, one day... I got in.” One of the movie franchises that absolutely gets lost in the shuffle in Tron. The two installments are so good. The TV show isn’t a bad sell either. The idea of a person getting sucked into the computer world to battle with the inner workings of a computer, and more so programs of his own creation is visionary to say the least. For Barrington, I think the idea for pairing with Tron is the belief it’s often an overlooked classic. The Eagles can ball, and are really dominating D2, but still NK, Portsmouth, and others get the attention. Well, not so here at ResV. We know for both Barrington and Tron, Flynn lives…
+2 South Kingstown (6 - 7, Wins over LaSalle, Classical, and Westerly) – “Doc, you built a time machine…out of a Delorian?” As mentioned before, there are few perfect movies out there. Back to the Future is on that list. The sequels are top shelf as well, but the OG is supreme. At its core, the story is about two bumbling, flawed characters finding their footing through trial and tribulation. Just when it appears the dark will swallow them whole, they rise to the occasion and become legends. This is South Kingstown today. Rough start, lots of inconsistent play, but the corner has been turned and the bolt of lightning has struck the clock tower. “Where we’re going, who needs roads?”
—1 East Greenwich (7 - 5, Wins over Coventry and Chariho) – “But with opera, with music... with music you can have twenty individuals all talking at the same time, and it's not noise, it's a perfect harmony!” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…what a name and what an interesting individual. Like William Shakespeare, there is a mysteriousness to Mozart that pairs with his genius. The movie, Amadeus, taps into the idea of what may have happened when a professional in music meets with a genius that rapidly overtakes his own mastery. Jealousy consumes. The Avengers… I’m aligning them with the quote from Wolfgang which talks of the joining of music to create harmony. Players moving on the floor reading, reacting, and trusting, which leads to the best possible play. The Avengers wrestle with it, as every other team does, but when it happens…even just so brief…the notes bring light to the volleyball soul.
—1 Chariho (5 -9, Losses to Portsmouth, East Greenwich, and North Kingstown) – I think everyone reading this, and getting this far, knew that Star Wars was going to enter the fray at some point. The beloved episode IV that started the country’s love of science fiction intertwined with human drama burst onto the scene and created a real empire in just a couple of decades. The characters are known throughout the world, while 100s of writers have taken different points of view on where the story went from the original three movies. What most forget, however, is that the stars of the first three films…the characters that is…take an absolute beating in their adventure. They barely win each time with defeat, and quite frankly annihilation, always staring them directly in the face. This is how most teams feel when they’ve undergone a complete rebuild. Thus, in a galaxy far far away, the Chargers face each opponent with the gritted determination of a small group of rebels that can no longer stomach the icy grip of a domineering empire.
+1 Middletown (9 - 4, Wins over North Smithfield and Exeter West Greenwich) – “I used to box for Oxford…” “Well, I used to kill for the CIA!” This exchange occurred at the end of the legendary movie A Fish Called Wanda when Otto and Archie are circling each other after Otto demanded they fight like men. Of course, Archie can’t resist the opportunity, so he puts down the gun he’s acquired, and the men start circling to fight…and Otto picks up the gun once he’s close to it. Head Slap meme!!! Many love Monty Python for their ludicrous movies like The Holy Grail, The Life of Brian, or The Meaning of Life, but for me, it’s Wanda that is tip top. Whereas the other three, Python uses a sledge hammer, Wanda is the scalpel. How this connects to Middletown…I’m not sure. I guess what made me consider this for the Islanders is that the heroes of the story go through a variety of adversarial moments that could cause injury that would not be recoverable…yet they bounce back and win the day.
—1 Lincoln (9 - 3, Win over West Warwick, Loss to Mt. Hope) – “Wait till they get a load of me…” All of you whipper snappers have grown up in a world where comic book movies are a reality All. The. Time. However, when I was growing up, there wasn’t much like that, until Tim Burton’s Batman! Getting an academy award winner to play the joker was crazy, however I still believe Jack Nicholson’s joker is the best joker rendition out there…with apologies to Phoenix and Ledger. Same could be said for casting Micheal Keaton as Batman. The film was dark enough, cartoony enough, and real enough for almost everyone in the country to be mesmerized. The line above is the moment people realize that Jack Napier survived the fall into the vat of acid and is now the joker. I also like the joker line, “Where does he get those wonderful toys?” Anyway, this relates to the Lions in so much that nobody saw this movie coming and the same could be said for Lincoln. Now, however, they are on the scene, and all can go with a smile…
Mt. Hope (9 - 5, Wins over Lincoln and Juanita Sanchez) - “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Before Star Trek, and Star Wars for that matter, went out of control and off the deep end…there was the Wrath of Khan. Unbelievable flick! Vengeance is the only thing Khan can think of as he tries to destroy Captain Kirk in a thinking space drama that was another example of the best that science fiction can be. Both crews battle to almost a standstill with both spaceships practically obliterated…but The Enterprise outlasts when Mr. Spock sacrifices himself to fix the engine. It’s this idea of sacrifice that connects this movie with Mt. Hope in my mind, as the Huskies have moved players all over the place, sacrificing what they want to benefit the many on the team. With the playoffs around the corner, it’s a good bet that the Huskies will boldy go.
Cumberland (7 - 8, Wins over Pilgrim and Classical) – “Here’s looking at you, kid.” If you’ve not seen Casablanca, you really must. In fact, most of Humphery Bogart’s movies are just top shelf. I will say that when you are talking about some of the greatest films of all time, Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, Lawerence of Arabia, etc. it’s Casablanca that is one of the most enjoyable and relatable to today’s movie tastes. There are bad guys around every corner and Bogart is trying to get his love and perhaps himself out of the country before capture. Wonderful stuff. Ingrid Bergman provides an exceptional performance and Sydney Greenstreet often steals the show in his brief times on screen. So, the connection to Cumberland volleyball isn’t much, truth be told. I mean, you could read the line differently as an announcement of pride for the younger players helping the Clippers get back in the playoff hunt. Yeah, that’s the ticket. "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
North Smithfield (8 - 4, Win over West Warwick, Loss to Middletown) - “Yeah, to you it's Thanksgiving; to me it's Thursday.” Sly Stallone made it all happen with the roll of the dice with the movie Rocky. Almost everyone knows the film and it cast Stallone into the stratosphere. He never looked back. Rocky is one of the top sports movies ever made and the sequels that have followed, for the most part, have been worth the price of the ticket. The above quote is from the first film. People forget that in the original Rocky, the lead character is a borderline bum, working for the mob, selected to fight Apollo Creed expected to be a warmup fight for later. Instead, Rocky fews it as his final shot, trains like mad, and earns a draw. North Smithfield has that never give up attitude which made me think of old Rock. The eye of the tiger. The noble run, even in defeat, can lead to magical things in the future.
Tolman (11 - 3, Wins over St. Rays, Narragansett, and Ponaganset) - The Godfather is a timeless movie that covers many complex human condition themes…certainly, I’m not ready to dive into all of them here. I will say, the best part of the flick, in my humble opinion (so humble, I know!), is the very end when Micheal takes control, and all of his enemies come to heel in one night. In the land of Division Three volleyball currently, the top five teams are Central Falls, Tolman, St. Rays, Narragansett, and Ponaganset. Tolman just played everyone but Central Falls in week six and beat them all…bringing all the current threats to their playoff positioning to heel in one stretch. The question now for Davina Kodua and crew, could they make Central Falls an offer they cannot refuse come playoff time?
Receiving Votes: Westerly, Central Falls, St. Rays, Narragansett, Ponaganset, Burrillville, Hope, Central, and Shea
ResV Player of the Week…
Week One - Caitlin Mediate - Sr. - Setter - Portsmouth (Committed to Saint Michael’s College)
Week Two - Tess LeFrenier - Sr. - Pin - North Kingstown (Committed to Adelphi University)
Week Three - Syd Henson - Sr. - Setter - North Kingstown (Committed to Adelphi University)
Week Four - Darryl Ashilaka - Fr. - Pin - Cumberland
Week Five - Maisy Naff - Jr. - Pin - LaSalle Academy
Week Six - Davina Kodua - Sr. - Setter - Tolman – What a week for Kodua! Tolman runs the gauntlet, comes out unscathed, with Kodua puts up huge numbers…then, the Tolman Tigers get a shout out on ESPN+ when they attend the Brown / Columbia match at Brown University. Kodua is the engine that makes this Tolman side go, and I suspect they’ll be back at RIC come playoff time.
ResV Honorable Baller of the Week…
Week One - Kealyn Pearson - Sr. - Pin - Exeter/West Greenwich
Week Two - Jude Landero - Jr. - Libero - North Providence
Week Three - Danna Garcia - Sr. - Pin - Central
Week Four - Jennifer Dos Santos Soares - Sr. - Middle - Shea
Week Five - Mary McNulty - Sr. - Pin - Toll Gate
Week Six - Amelia Holmes - So. - Middle - Pilgrim – So Barrington comes to town with the gameplan of running things through the middle to set up an easier situation for the pins. They couldn’t do it. Why? Because Amelia Holmes was on point that night. She stifled the Barrington middle attack and caused all sorts of issues at the net. Though Pilgrim fell, it was a great effort from Holmes.
Playoff Races Through Week Five…
D1-
North Kingstown – Skippers continue to do their thing. Major discussions about whether anyone has the juice to come close.
Portsmouth – They need to scare and dent the Skippers the next time they see them. Have to plant the seed for playoff time.
East Providence – Goal will be to somehow see the Skippers in the finals where anything could happen.
LaSalle Academy – SK loss hurt the cause, but still in the top five. Need to catch the consistency train and limit errors.
Prout – Been a fun season thus far but have to think they’re hungry for a playoff meal.
D2-
Barrington – Eagles dispatched Burrillville rather easily along with Pilgrim. Does anyone in D2 compare?
Middletown – Wins over North Smithfield and EWG keep the pace. Islanders will need their A-game when Barrington comes a calling next week.
Lincoln – Loss to Mt. Hope brings Lincoln back to earth a little. It was a five-set thriller, and thus I’m waiting another week to jostle the D2 board…
Mt. Hope – Win over Lincoln means the Huskies are on the hunt. Need one more big win to jump some spaces.
Cumberland – Two win week and the Clippers feel like a stronger bet then some teams that have better records. That strength of schedule component better be considered…
D3-
Tolman – The Tigers had themselves a week and confirm what I thought. They’re the top dog in D3 and everyone is just playing catch up.
Central Falls – The closest to the Tigers is Central Falls, but the Tigers already left them with a loss. It was early on though, so I suspect the Warriors may be different come the rematch.
St. Rays – The Saints really needed the Tolman win to make noise. They’re in the mix, but after this week, perhaps not the threat they need to be.
Narragansett – The Mariners are part of the trio of teams that took a set from Tolman, but nothing further. Tigers are the top dog, so at least now Narragansett knows what needs to be done.
Ponaganset – I love that this Ponaganset side has come out of nowhere to be in the mix. Stealing a set from Tolman is nice, but I suspect more is wanted, especially come playoff time.
D4-
Central – Garcia is the truth. Can Hope and Shea figure out a way to stop her from getting 15 kills a night? In my mind, Central is in the pole position, but Hope is also knocking on the door.
Hope – Recent wins over Toll Gate and Davies tell a strong tale going into the final two weeks.
Shea – They lost to hope in five the last time they saw them. If they can snag a win against them coming up, a lot of momentum for the playoffs will be achieved.
Davies – The win over Toll Gate was huge as it kept the Titans at bay and keeps Woonsocket in check…for the moment. A double header with the Novans at the end of the season will decide the seeding for sure.
Toll Gate – Titans have two wins over Woonsocket, but seem to have trouble with Davies and ultimately the top of the leaderboard in D4. Couple of tweaks may be needed if they want to have a good run come playoff time.
Slightly Past Mid-Season Projections…
Note: Absolutely reserve the right to change my mind on these, as there plenty of volleyball left to play…
Potential Player of the Year:
Keira Mullen (East Providence - Jr.) – Does everything but take tickets for the Townies. Attacks well, sets from the back row, and is called upon often to do work from the service line to keep EP in the mix.
Syd Henson (North Kingstown - Sr.) – Top tier Libero (last year’s ResV defensive player of the year) that was asked to switch to setter and has killed it all season. Syd runs the show as good as anyone and is just an all-around top tier RI volleyballer.
Tess LeFrenier (North Kingstown - Sr.) – The top arm in the state. When LeFrenier hits the ball, it just sounds different. Scores pretty much at will and is no slouch in the other aspects of the game.
Caitlin Mediate (Portsmouth - Sr.) – ResV’s setter of the year last year is having a spectacular senior season. Leading her team to only one defeat to date, Mediate has saved her best play for her last season.
Emma McCrann (Barrington - Jr.) – McCrann has been the foundation that this Eagle team has been built on. She’s the top arm for the Eagles and has not disappointed all year. Scores efficiently and is called upon to do all the little things necessary for her team’s success.
Hailey Labonte (Portsmouth - Sr.) – What a season for Labonte. She’s averaging roughly 15 kills a night and has been the weapon that has dismantled most of Portsmouth’s opponents. She reads the block well and can beat you from the service line as well.
Potential Defensive Player of the Year:
Sofia D’Agostino (La Salle Academy - Jr.) – Sofia is a premier defender in the league. She’ll make the normal play easily and make the spectacular play look normal. Solid in serve receive, but is just an phenom on the ground defense.
Mia Iemma (South Kingstown - Sr.) – Iemma is the sure handed Libero that you can trust to make most plays to keep your team in a match. She does a really good job going to her left and will make the plays a team needs to continue rallies.
Jett Cronin (Prout - Sr.) – One of the leaders for this resurgent Prout side, Cronin is a shut down Lib who does the job at a high level. She’ll make solid plays off the block and can pass dimes that allow her side to run the offense well.
Kimi Hickey (Barrington - Jr.) – As I was watching Lincoln climb the charts, it took another coach to alert me about Hickey. He said, the Libero for the Lions is crazy good, and I can confirm that he was right. Hickey is instrumental in keep the Lions in rallies and ultimately long-lasting wins.
McKenznie Cleary (Burrillville - Sr.) – Cleary give Burrillville a double-edged weapon in the middle. Along with her partner in the middle in Sadie Larue, who is no slouch at the postion, the Broncos have middle depth most teams can only dream of. Cleary, however, gets the nod here as besides her ability to score, her block is a large component for the success of the team. Shots get altered due to her presence leading to often successful transition offense.
Kayliegh Garrepy (North Kingstown - So.) – Garrepy has an interesting situation going on around her for NK. The team is playing so well, that opportunities to score are just limited. Thus, the sophomore middle makes her work at the net and on the ground defense side of the game. She closes blocks well and can dig better then most.
Potential Setter of the Year:
Caitlin Mediate (Portsmouth - Sr.) – Top tier hands with top tier all around play. Labonte and crew may be the hammer, but Mediate is the hand that swings the tools.
Syd Henson (North Kingstown - Sr.) – Few players go by their first name. The name Syd is known throughout the state. Armed with a skill set that has few rivals, her transition to setter has been nearly flawless.
Sophia Denham (Barrington - Sr.) – As the Barrington machine continues the march, it’s Denham who is at the wheel. The senior setter is having a strong final campaign, and gold may be at the end of the rainbow.
Alexandra Spinella (South Kingstown - Sr.) – Spinerella, spin it up one more time! I’m probably the only one that digs that take on a 90s line. Nonetheless, Spinella has lived up to the billing for the Rebels and her job as the conductor has been top shelf.
Davina Kodua (Tolman - Sr.) – Where the Tigers go, Kodua leads. Davina has had a similar effect for her squad comparable to the likes of Keira Mullen and Lyla Auth. She’s having a stellar senior season and has positioned Tolman for another run at the crown.
Olivia Kestler (Middletown - Sr.) – Quietly Kestler is having a great season. For a portion of the first half of the campaign, Kestler was without arguably her top attacker. Regardless, she continued the battle and now Middletown is looking to put pressure on the Eagles thanks to a healthy side and Kestler’s will.
Potential Newcomer of the Year:
Darryl Ashilaka (Cumberland, Fr.) – Once Ashilaka was inserted into the lineup, things changed. Her ability to score along with a mean serve has brought the Clippers back from the brink.
Sonja Beasley (Chariho, So.) – I’m a big fan of middles making noise. Beasley has certainly done that for Chariho. It’s a season of rebuilding, and Beasley has shown that the future is brought regardless of the present.
Addison Fain (East Greenwich, Jr.) – Part of the Avengers solid campaign this season is due to the solid work from Fain in the middle. Her block and the ability to score has given EG some play to rely on when battling the states top sides.
Vivian Bernhardt (East Providence, So.) – Mullen and Vest get the looks and rightfully so, but Bernhardt has jumped into the skirmish and is playing solid ball, helping the cause greatly. It won’t be long, if it’s not already, that she is another feature for the Townies.
Dara Agramonte (Classical, So.) – As with many teams this season, the Purple are in rebuild mode due to talented seniors graduating. It’s the ebb and flow of many outfits in the state. Agramonte has stepped to the challenge, is setting well, and creating the new cultural infrastructure for the Purple’s new crew.
Arielly DeAndrade (Central Falls, So.) – In any volleyball league in RI, you need a pin attacker that can score you points in bunches. For Central Falls, it’s DeAndrade. She has been the force to deal with all season and shows no sign of slowing down.
Potential Coach of the Year:
Brian Garrepy (North Kingstown) – Since Coach Garrepy retook his position as the head coach for North Kingstown, the Skippers are almost as successful in the win / loss department as can be. Surrounding himself with likeminded and successful coaches throughout the years (Corey Maack, Kevin Harrington, Jenna Knight, Brian Hesford), Garrepy has built a powerhouse that has only lost 15 times in ten years of play (181 wins and counting). That’s incredible consistency and success…and this year’s team may be the most dominate of the bunch.
Steven Bevilacqua (Tolman) – I’m in the camp that Coach Bevilacqua does not get enough credit for what he’s done for volleyball at Tolman high school. Not particularly known for volleyball greatness prior to Steve taking the reins, Tolman has been in the mix ever since. Today, the Tigers are regularly in the top four for both boys and girls’ volleyball teams, have been to a couple of championship matches, and have a state title to their school’s name. This year’s team had a lot of new faces, and yet here they are again the team to beat in their division.
Andrew Bevilacqua (Prout) – I’ve been on record already talking about the job that Coach Bevilacqua has done at Prout…especially considering the trials and tribulations he’s had to traverse with that team in the prior two years. Three years ago, Prout lost in the finals to a very good South Kingstown side, then Prout’s top player transferred to another school, while also losing some talent to graduation. This left Andrew in a tough spot where he was forced to build from the ground up in a period, he probably didn’t think he’d have too. Two years later, the Crusaders are in the mix once again and are a top five team in the Division.
Lisa Zabel (Portsmouth) – This feels like the year for Coach Zabel and Portsmouth. Two years ago, Portsmouth was in position to make a run at it, but ended up bowing out in the semis. This year, however, they’re winning games in a variety of ways…especially when they’re close. Often that’s the real difference between the good teams and the great teams, can you win the five-set battles? This year’s team has that grit, and they may be the only team on the board with enough talent and experience to stop the Skipper machine. The other aspect that is crucial is to get all your players to accept the roles given. To this point, Coach Zabel has her time firing on all cylinders.
Robert Schmitt (Lincoln) – I’m not sure anyone had Lincoln as a top four team in the division at the start of the year, but here we are and Coach Schmitt has a squad that can ball. They are the Micheal Chang of girls’ volleyball teams. Dating myself to be sure, Chang was a professional tennis player during the reins of Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, and Agassi. Chang’s style of play was very different than those four. He wasn’t going to overpower you to score, but he was going to be a never-ending back stop. Everyone hated playing Chang, because you knew you’d be in for a grueling match where points would last forever. Here lies the Lincoln way this season. Top tier defense, lots of rallies, we’ll see how fit and disciplined you really are.
Gus Steppen (Middletown) – Last year, the Islanders had a squad. Lots of names that were known from the club world and some real smart wins early on. However, as the year went on, that team began to falter. So much so, they dropped in seeding and then had to play on the road in the quarters of which didn’t go well. In 2024, there are some new faces and plenty lost to graduation, but this hasn’t stopped Coach Steppen for putting on another solid unit to the court. They’ve even battled well through injury to position themselves well for the playoffs. Step one, get a home playoff game. Step two, ball out in the semis and see what happens. Step three? Well, we all know step three.
ResV Coaching Tip of the Week:
If you are going to try something outside of the box, you best have practiced it first. There always comes a time in season when you have the urge to try something unconventional. This feeling is fine and could lead to a great discovery for your team’s performance. However, if you want to use it, you must practice it first. In a recent match I saw, a team was getting zero production from their opposites. Coach tried three different players at the position and still came up empty. So, the coach installed one of their middles into the opposite slot. I liked the idea a lot, but it became apparent quickly that the middle had never played there before. So, immediately the shine wore off and things went south. Luckily, the coach did not blame the player, for how can you be upset with something that was never practiced? Try to envision all the possible moves you could make, especially when the fecal matter has hit the fan, and practice it so if it comes to that move…the player is ok and can perform.
ResV Player Tip of the Week:
Communication in a match is a must have for any team to be successful, especially when playing a top tier opponent. The question becomes, however, what is good communication? In the heat of match play, there isn’t time for niceties and politeness. Thus, you must be direct and firm with your comms. This may rub people the wrong way, but if they are, or you are, that upset with direct, and sometimes colorful language, filled direction…it probably means that trust has not been achieved through you and your teammates. If you trust your teammates, you understand that all criticism and information given to your direction is to your benefit. They wouldn’t say something unless they cared about you and your performance as well as caring about the team’s performance. This does take trust, and trust is earned…and sometimes trust takes a long time to be earned. However, once it’s there, any information given in the trenches, no matter how it’s delivered, hits the mark and is accepted.
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!