Week Five - What in Sam Hill is Going on Around Here?
Confusion by Michelle Barlondsmith
10/9/22
Two things coaches will miss sleep over are lack of effort and reverse sweeps. Effort, like technique, is trained in the practice gym while reverse sweeps…they train mental toughness for both squads. Upsets happen, and we had plenty of them this week. As with reverse sweeps, upsets build mental toughness, but they also became valuable pivotal points in a season for both sides. For the team that wins, it’s potential finally achieved, often after weeks of frustrating play. For the team that fell, it’s a wakeup call that there is still work to be done and a renewed call for focus. Reverse Sweeps and Upsets can change a season, or they can be valuable lessons to springboard from. We certainly have some teams to watch to see what they do next after week 5…
The Upset of the week belongs to The Prout School as they upended Coventry in 5 sets…or was it Prout upsetting East Greenwich in 3 sets? A season is often about pivot points of growth, and certainly week five was Prout’s week. Led by Sydney Decarvalho, Prout certainly got their name back in the conversation and established that going through their barn is a risky proposition.
North Kingstown (9 - 1) - The Skippers stay at the top spot for the third week in a row as they handed out defeats to Mount Saint Charles and Cranston East. MSC fell in 3 while CE was able to take a set and push the Skippers to 4. Mackenzie Lonergan was especially solid this week for North. With week 6 as the premier week of action in the state, the Skippers see the dangerous Avengers of East Greenwich followed by the #2 team in the state La Salle (a chance to avenge their only loss) and finish with a tour at Cranston West.
La Salle (9 - 1) - Week 5 for the Rams practically mirrored the Skippers. Two opponents, two wins…a 3-set win over Cranston East and a 4-set vic over Cranston West. Continued solid play from sophomore setter Abby Crowley fueled the week for La Salle. Week 6 brings the Mounties to the mountain and then a road trip to the home of the Skippers in North Kingstown. MSC can provide a challenging puzzle, but the premier match-up, and the second meeting, between the current top two teams in the state is easily the match of the week.
South Kingstown (7 - 2) - The Rebels collected three wins this past week with key dubs, and every win is key now, over Cranston West, Mount Saint Charles, and Classical. South Kingstown has a group that can make another run at the ring and week 6 will certainly continue to prep this team for that adventure. With Coventry at home and then a trip to Portsmouth, the Rebels are thinking another clean sweep week. Look for the Rebels to maintain an advantage at the net with the blocking prowess of Sierra Thompson.
Chariho (10 - 0) - Chariho remains the class of D-2 with another week where a loss evades them. Week 5 was the closest they’ve come as the premier match with East Providence lived up to the billing. Going 5 sets, it was Jules White and company, finishing the job against a more then game Townies side. Wins against Pilgrim and Rogers followed keeping the sheet clean for Chariho. Week 6 brings Cumberland to the cave for what should be another top tier exam.
(↑ 1) Cumberland (8 - 1) - Cumberland has waited for week 6 to come with barely hidden exhilaration. Since dropping down to D-2, the Clippers have looked to stake claim to the division. When it became clear that Chariho, East Providence, and Westerly, were the opponents that were likely to stall that goal, the focus became when do those matches happen, and they can’t come quick enough. East Providence was a hard fought 4-set victory that featured two of those sets in extra frames. Now in week 6, both Westerly and Chariho are on the menu. Westerly will be at home and Chariho on the road. What we do know, is that lots of questions get answered in D-2 for the Clippers this week.
(↑ 2) East Providence (10 - 2) - The Townies had the Chargers at home and right where they wanted them…but couldn’t finish the job. As with all 5-set matches, there are points in the game where there is no question East Providence would love to have back. Though a tough defeat on their home ice, East Providence does move up due to the struggles from Coventry and East Greenwich…but even more so, EP is tied for most wins on the year thus far and also dispatched Barrington is three. Freshman Keira Mullen is going to be a player to watch soon…if she isn’t one already.
(↓ 2) Coventry (6 - 4) - The Oakers are turning into a team that’s a riddle wrapped inside an enigma. Coming off a three-match snide, Coventry posted a solid performance over Portsmouth at home to give the good vibes a much-needed jolt in this 2022 season. Good vibes lasted a couple of days… Prout then, all of a sudden from the top turnbuckle, dealt the Oakers a five-set defeat that practically no one saw coming. Which leads to the question, where does this leave Coventry? They have four losses and four players on the top 26 players in the state board. The road ahead isn’t entirely easy, either, with a road match at South Kingstown and then hosting a Classical team that can cause issues. It’s unsure what the future holds for Coventry as they cling to the top spot in D-1 B.
(↓ 1) East Greenwich (6 - 5) - Ahhh, the Avengers. Well, they are consistent in their non-consistency. Coming off a huge win against South Kingstown, EG went to Prout and got swept. Ouch. Then, the Avengers went to West Warwick and survived a 5-setter at the Wizard’s lair. Here is what we do know… They are going to NK and Cranston East this week, and that’s about it. The Avengers could win and could lose, which I guess exactly sums up life for all of us. Come playoff time, it’ll be interesting to see if the Avengers become the team that makes a run to the top or if they sputter at the starting line. Could go either way.
Portsmouth (5 - 6) - With a split week, Portsmouth cleared a tough Classical team at home and then struggled on the road at Coventry. Pretty standard stuff for Portsmouth as to date their only signature win is upended the Avengers in East Greenwich followed by a 4-set win against Cranston East. With Cranston West and South Kingstown on the docket in week 6, it could be another split for the Patriots.
Classical (3 - 6) - Classical was on a 3-match losing streak of their own this week when they hosted Prout following a tough 4-set defeat to Portsmouth the day before. Home court held true, and the Purple were able to nip Prout, which was the only thing stopping Prout from having a perfect week. Classical goes by the hands of Paula Pesoa and the arm of Harmony Forest. This week 6 they’ll see West Warwick at home and then travel to Coventry for a match the Purple would love to have.
Mount Saint Charles (4 - 5) - The Mounties dropped two as they faced the current top team in the state followed by the third ranked team in the state on back-to-back dates. Stealing a set from South Kingstown was a moral victory as coming of a 3-set defeat to North Kingstown the night before makes for a tough day 2. MSC does have La Salle next on the road followed by a road trip to Cranston West where certainly they’ll need to play clean ball to come out on top in both.
Cranston East (3 - 6) - The Bolts had a tough start to the week as they had to deal with the Skippers from North Kingstown to start. Though dropping the 4-set match, Cranston East played the top team in the state tough. Sarina Marines showed big in the match and gave the Skippers some things to think about. Following the loss, the Bolts hosted the Wizards and that match turned into an absolute battle. In a 5-set thriller, where four out of the five sets were decided by only 2 points (and the fifth set was won 19-17, one of three sets in the match to go overtime), Cranston East was victorious once the dust settled. CE has Prout and East Greenwich next.
Westerly (6 - 4) - The hits keep coming for the Bulldogs as they come off a week where they drop matches to Lincoln and East Providence, to then drop a 4-setter to Pilgrim to start week 5. With three consecutive defeats, Westerly needed a vic in the worst way. Ponaganset at home provided just that as the Bulldogs were able to carve out a 3-set win and stop the slide for the time being. With a top seeded Cumberland next, followed by an improved Exter West Greenwich club, Westerly is not out of the woods yet.
Central Falls (7 - 1) - Central Falls was riding high after vanquishing their nemesis of last year, Scituate, in five sets on the road. The hangover came six days later in a four-set defeat, their first of the season, to Tolman (who is quietly putting together a good resume in their own right). Shaking off the loss, CF took care of business against Woonsocket and Toll Gate to finish the week strong. Tuesday will be the topflight match-up as CF will host Bay View with a lot of chips in the middle of the table.
Bay View (6- 0) - Bay View hasn’t lost yet, that we know about anyway. Their score from the Narraganset match has yet to be posted. Whether that means the match happened or not, I cannot tell. What I do know is that they’ve not lost to that point, and they have a big match on the road against Central Falls up next. From there they’re on the road against Woonsocket. Led by setter Gianna Paolino and attacker Maggie McKitchen, Bay View will look to have a big week to attempt to seize control of D-3.
Receiving Votes — Scituate, Middletown, Mt. Hope, Providence Country Day, Tolman, Narragansett, Prout
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