Week Two…Skippers Stun Rams at The Mountain Top!
7/14/24
ResV = Article and Show Prep for the Others…
Gentlemen, let’s broaden our minds! Lawrence! (Name the Movie!)
but first…
The Third Annual ResV Systems Charity All-Star Match is on June 15th at East Greenwich High School! Set Your Calendars Now!!!
If interested in being a sponsor for the event, please contact Coach Reslow at Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com.
All hail, the new king in town!
Big Stat Games of the Week…that I know of anyway…(Stats are hard to come by these days…)
Christian Mak - Cranston West - Pin - 15 kills, 7 blocks, and an ace at Central
Chris Harvey - Cranston West - Pin - 11 kills, 4 blocks, and 10 digs at Central
Ashton Mak - Cranston West - Setter - 30 assists, 9 digs, 2 kills at Central
Jet Nascimento - Central - Pin - 22 kills vs. Cranston West : 16 kills at East Providence
Cam Kelley - Barrington - Pin - 10 kills, 4 aces, 4 digs vs. East Providence : 24 kills, 2 aces, 4 blocks, and 10 digs at Lincoln
Jimmy Ciummo - Barrington - Middle - 11 kills, 5 blocks at Lincoln
Jack Kenyon - Westerly - Utility - 15 kills, 6 digs, 2 blocks, and an ace vs. Pilgrim : 31 kills, 24 digs, 2 assists, and a block at West Warwick
Landon Marland - Chariho - Pin - 17 kills, 15 digs at Coventry
Quinn Spasato - Chariho - Pin - 16 kills, 15 digs 2 blocks at Coventry
Kody Poplaski - Chariho - Setter - 50 assists, 2 aces, 2 blocks at Coventry
Ryan Harrington - North Kingstown - Pin - 10 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces, and 2 blocks at LaSalle
Cody Tow - North Kingstown - Pin - 12 kills, 6 digs, an ace and a block at LaSalle
Quinlan Fahy - North Kingstown - Middle - 8 kills, 5 digs, and a block at LaSalle
Evan Shea - North Kingstown - Setter - 32 assists and 7 digs at LaSalle
Ty Cotta - LaSalle Academy - Libero - 18 digs vs. North Kingstown
David Green - LaSalle Academy - Middle - 6 blocks vs. North Kingstown
Ephraim Abhulime - LaSalle Academy - Pin - 11 kills, 4 blocks, and 3 aces at North Smithfield
Stephen Buco - LaSalle Academy - Setter - 32 assists, 9 digs, and an ace at North Smithfield
Chris Benell - LaSalle Academy - Pin - 11 kills at North Smithfield
Connor Lewis - LaSalle Academy - Middle - 6 kills and 8 blocks at North Smithfield
Larry Yin - Cranston East - Libero - 25 digs vs. Hendricken : 15 digs vs. Chariho
Charles Pincince - Cranston East - Pin - 12 kills, 8 digs vs. Hendricken : 14 kills vs. Chariho
Caleb Xum - Cranston East - Setter - 28 assists, 12 digs vs. Hendricken : 27 assists vs. Chariho
Tom Matchett - North Smithfield - Middle - 10 kills, 6 blocks, at East Greenwich
Ben Sousa - North Smithfield - Libero - 13 digs at East Greenwich
Max Silverman - East Greenwich - Setter - 31 assists, 8 digs at Bishop Hendricken
Cole Arsenault - East Greenwich - Utility - 9 kills, 2 aces, 7 digs, and a block at Bishop Hendricken
Julio Correia - Tolman/Shea - Pin - 23 kills, 3 blocks at Exeter West Greenwich
Andrew Ramos - Bishop Hendricken - Middle - 12 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks vs. East Greenwich
Landen McCarty - Bishop Hendricken - Setter - 32 assists, 12 digs, 2 blocks vs. East Greenwich
Jordan Rodriguez - East Providence - Pin - 14 kills, 17 digs vs. Central
Loden Broe - East Providence - Setter - 36 assists 5 digs vs. Central
Wayne McNamara - Lincoln - Pin - 26 kills, 3 blocks, 9 digs vs. Barrington
Austin Noel - Lincoln - Setter - 46 assists, 7 digs vs. Barrington
Sang Min Park - Barrington - Setter - 46 assists, 13 digs, 2 aces, and a kill at Lincoln
Austin Scotti - Toll Gate - Pin - 15 kills vs. Exeter West Greenwich
Tyler Biddle - Lincoln - Pin - 8 kills, 3 blocks, 9 digs vs. Barrington
*Special Congratulations to Achievement First winning their first match in school history (3 - 0 over Davies)! AJ Kue and James Gilbert lead the way with 5 aces a piece.
ResV Team of the Week…
Pin - Ryan Harrington (Jr.) - North Kingstown - The smoothest player in the league. Harri controls the court and ensures good things happen for his squad on a consistent basis. 10 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks, and 2 aces later, the top team in the state fell to Harri and the Argonauts…I mean Skippers…which says volumes.
Pin - Austin Scotti (Sr.) - Toll Gate - The hammer no one knows about…until you do. Then, he’ll always be there. Scotti is the main cog in the TG machine. They’re off to a 4 - 1 start and Scotti has been blasting kills throughout it all. He put up a casual 15 kills against EWG.
MB - Andrew Ramos (So.) - Bishop Hendricken - Ramos has been one of the many keys to Bishop Hendricken’s solid start to the season. The sophomore put up 12 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces against East Greenwich and is one of a select few that runs a back one in transition to near perfection.
MB - Jimmy Ciummo (Sr.) - Barrington - Hitting a .467 his last three matches, including games against East Providence and Lincoln. Against Lincoln, in a five set thriller, Ciummo had 11 kills and 5 blocks and was an absolute force in the middle.
Pin - Julio Correia (Sr.) - Tolman/Shea - Correia had a monster match against Exeter West Greenwich with 23 kills and 3 blocks while being the go to attacker for the boys from Pawtucket in the first four.
Setter - Loden Broe (Sr.) - East Providence - Playing all potential playoff opponents in week two, Broe and his EP side played 12 sets of volleyball highlighted with Broe’s 36 assists effort against Central. Broe orchestrated all three matches well and gave EP every shot to win on the week.
Libero - Larry Yin (Sr.) - Cranston East - Yin was stout in week two, playing solid ground defense as the Bolts took wins on Bishop Hendricken and Chariho.
ResV Top 15…
(+1) North Kingstown (5 - 0) - Well, there goes that man again…that team again… The boys from Kingstown, the North side that is, went to the mountain top and snatched the crown from LaSalle’s head. Awesome early statement and certainly everyone in the league took notice. It also feels like Ryan Harrington and Cody Tow are going to get 10 plus kills every night. If nothing else, NK is consistent. They’ll look to keep the vibe on their side with Hendricken and North Smithfield up next…with some thinking NS might be the only team that can stop the Skippers in their tracks.
(—1) LaSalle Academy (4 - 1) - It didn’t go as planned, obviously, but getting swept was slightly shocking. NK can ball and they’re arguably the top ball control and serving team in the state, so you have your work cut out for you no matter the case. Swept hurts, however, it can be the best thing for a team that has back-to-back championships on the mind. Vulnerability has been shown, so now you study and fix it. Hendricken and Chariho are next and are perfect teams to craft your solution.
North Smithfield (3 - 1) - Honestly felt that the Northmen would fare well against LaSalle this week… Rams took an early loss, NS hadn’t been touched, LaSalle might be missing some guys, the match was at the Northmen’s home barn… But no, LaSalle took it in four and stunned this polished crew. Made me think of JWU and Rivier back in the day. There were some years JWU was close if not better then Riv, but we could never figure them out. Perhaps, LaSalle is the kryptonite… Nonetheless, dates with the Kingstowns are next and some statements could be made with taking them both.
Classical (4 - 1) - Not much to report on with the Purple in week two. They took care of business against Coventry and South Kingstown in precise fashion. Did the job needed to be done. Now, the fun part. They see Cranston East next, which will be a nice test. EG will follow and could provide some issues…could not. The CE match is where it’s at this week as Teddy Wallace and Jacob Agramonte vs. Charles Pincince and Carlos Lora is a pretty fun match…throw in talented setters James Men and Caleb Xum and it’s a party! Who doesn’t like a party?
Cranston West (5 - 0) - Falcons throw the gauntlet down in weeks one and two, claiming the title comes through us. Can’t argue with them as they toppled two of the top teams in the league, Barrington and East Providence. They also bested Jet Nascimento’s Central and only have Wayne McNamara’s Lincoln and Jack Kenyon’s Westerly sides to defeat to run the table in the first half of the season. Chris Harvey is a revelation as an attacker on the pin, which Christian Mak has upped his game. Ashton Mak is the setter the CW has been waiting for. Lincoln will be in week three and no doubt a doosy of a match.
Barrington (4 - 1) - To steel the Philadelphia slogan…Fly Eagles Fly! Barrington had a strong week two, besting East Providence, Lincoln, and Pilgrim…showing they could shrug off the five-set defeat to the CW the week before. That loss may be the rallying cry for the rest of the season. Granted, they were on the road which makes one think…Falcons have to come to our nest at some point and then we’ll see how good they are. The Eagles are at their best when Bruiser and Bam Bam get theirs…Cam Kelley and Jimmy Ciummo…so it’s crucial that passing continues to be the focus. Wizards and Bulldogs in week three!
Lincoln (3 - 1) - The Wayne McNamara farewell tour continues, and the senior is slaying teams left and right. Setter Austin Noel is running a solid show, and the Lions are getting good production out of Jackson Colton and Tyler Biddle, which means that Lincoln has teeth and can make another run at this thing. I’m a big Lions fan…they made me look like fortune teller last year…regardless of that, it’s easy to see that most of the pieces are in place to win matches. The loss to Barrington is a great learning moment, certainly, and I suspect Lincoln will take the lesson and run with it. They better…the CW and EP are next.
Cranston East (3 - 2) - The Bolts get Carlos Lora back in the fold which is huge for their aspirations. Lora sures up passing and defense and gives another pin to side out with, taking some of the pressure off of Charles Pincince. Larry Yin has had two strong weeks at the Lib spot meaning you’ll have to work to find the floor against this crew. They took down Hendricken and Chariho in week two, but that Hendricken match was something. Most contested three set win I’ve seen in years. That’ll be another fun one later on when it’s on Hendricken’s court. Classical is up next and another barometer for this club to see if they can tango with the big boys.
(+2) Bishop Hendricken (3 - 2) - The Hawks are playing pretty inspired ball this season and a lot of it is coming from the youth movement. Andrew Ramos and Ryan Yin are both sophomores that can ball. Junior Santiago Harrington has flourished in two weeks as the Libero while Landen McCarty filled in for Ben Warr and set a gem this past week against East Greenwich. All in all, three sophomores, three juniors, and only three seniors to this revived Hawk side. Now, week three is a brutal one as they see the Skippers and Rams, but those are great matches to learn from. Thus, Hendricken has the feel of a team that may be dangerous come playoff time…
(—1) East Providence (4 - 2) - Culture and drama can derail a season faster than a train leaving the station. My last year at JWU, we were as talented as anyone in the country…we even knocked off two nationally ranked teams. The culture, however, wasn’t good. There was drama everywhere, and though Covid took away that season…the truth is we were nose diving anyway. Avoid drama like the plague! Now, I’m not saying there is lots of drama going on with EP… all I’m giving is a warning. Talented teams, just like teams that are not, need to come together and persevere. EP is certainly talented and they’re battling. It was a tough week two. It appears they get to battle Lincoln twice in a row to get the train back on the tracks.
(+1) Chariho (2 - 3) - The Chargers gain one, but really only because the Avengers are in free fall. Beating Coventry in week two is nice…not thrilling, just nice (Name that movie!). Chariho needs an attacker to step up and consistently help Quinn Sposato and Travis Plante. It looks like Landon Marland is ready to take that role. The sophomore put up 16 on Coventry and is making less errors. Hitting errors can be everything in a match, so that’s the focus going forward for this team. With East Greenwich and LaSalle coming up, passing and said hitting errors will decide the Charger’s fate.
(—2) East Greenwich (1 - 5) - The Avengers cling to the top fifteen board, but their grip is slipping. East Greenwich, like Westerly and Central, get the benefit of the doubt as their lot may have a lot to do with injuries. Still, you have to win some games and the Avengers are on the wrong side of many decisions. Hope exists. Should Michael Dobrzanski return and have some pop, he’ll combine with Cole Arsenault and Spencer Warburton to be a pretty solid pin attacking crew. Max Silverman is still one of the premier setters in the state while Luke Moio is holding his own as the Lib spot as well. Chariho and Classical are next, and you have to think they need one of those to remain on the board.
Westerly (2 - 2) - The Bulldogs had a positive week, dispatching Pilgrim and West Warwick to the loss column. The Wizards match going five was a little eye opening, however. Westerly is riddled with injuries at the moment, so things are not coming easily. Jack Kenyon put up 31 kills and 24 digs against West Warwick, which is a huge match…but if they need him to do that every time? Yikes… The hope is that Henry Kenyon is back soon, and the others injured return momentarily as well so the Bulldogs can make a real run at it. Woonsocket and Barrington are next on the docket next to challenge the theory.
Central (0 - 5) - The Knights are winless through two weeks and similarly to East Greenwich, their place on the top fifteen board is uncertain going forward. Jet Nascimento is one of the top pins in the state and is doing work against everyone, but the decisions aren’t falling Central’s way. Getting Komong Yang back helps the cause. They’ve also played all the top teams in the league in a row. Pilgrim and West Warwick are next and should be more in the wheelhouse…plus give Central a chance to get their footing and come together as a team. The key will be finding Nascimento when it matters most to close out sets and matches. Win a couple, get a good vibe going, then attack the top crews when they come round again.
Central Falls (3 - 0) - With Burrillville and Davies up next for the Warriors, Central Falls looks to be in solid position to remain blemish free on the week. Juanita Sanchez, Scituate, Toll Gate, and Mt. Hope are all keeping pace, however, and nipping at the Warrior’s heels. So, week three’s events are pressure filled as any slip up means the others move forward. Tough serving and good passing will be the keys to securing wins for the Warriers…as they often are for all.
Getting Votes… Juanita Sanchez, St. Raphael’s, Tolman/Shea, Scituate, Toll Gate, Mt. Hope
***Each week, based on results, this list will be altered.
ResV Player of the Week…
Week 1 - Spencer Warburton (East Greenwich)
Week 2 - Jack Kenyon (Westerly) - The big fella from Westerly put on a show when the Bulldogs visited the Wizards of West Warwick. The match went five and Kenyon went off…31 kills 24 digs! He also put up 15 the night before…my shoulder is aching just thinking about it. Kenyon is one of the top pins in the state and the Bulldogs lean on him often…as they should.
Playoff Races Through Week Two…
Division 1:
North Kingstown - Uh oh…if the best blockers in town can’t slow them down then what chance do others have?
LaSalle Academy - Skippers gave them a slice of humble pie…loved that they battled back and took down NS in the same week.
North Smithfield - Sometimes you just come up against a team you can’t quite figure out no matter what…is LaSalle that team for this crew?
Classical - Ready to showcase in week three!
Cranston East - Fully whole in week two means back in the playoff hunt…but they need a signature win now to tell the league they’re serious.
Division 2:
Cranston West - This might be the year that CW tells Coach Reslow…You doubted us, Coach!!!
Barrington - Ok, the CW loss hurt in week one, but took out EP and Lincoln in week two. Falcons have to come to our nest at some point too.
Lincoln - Losing to Barrington in five tells a solid story. They’re right in the thick of it and a very dangerous opponent of all of D2.
East Providence - Weird stuff going on with this crew…if they can sort it out, they’re as talented as anyone in the league.
Westerly - Once whole, they’re going to be that team no one wants to play.
Division 3:
Central Falls - No loss, no move. They have wins against Tolman and Toll Gate and they may just be getting started.
Juanita Sanchez - Two more wins and JS is looking to dance with anyone in the league.
Scituate - Coach Short has these guys playing pretty decent ball. Take them for granted at your own peril.
St. Raphael’s - The Rays have some wins and some eyes set on tougher opponents.
Toll Gate - Beware Scotti’s arm.
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
Also, if you like the content, please consider donating to ResV Systems…Venmo is @ResVsystems or visit the store by clicking the picture below and getting some merch!
