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Here's everything you need to know about Friday and Saturday's boys volleyball championships

Eric Rueb, The Providence Journal
·5 min read

DIVISION I BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Will Chariho have an answer for Ephraim Abhulime, La Salle's explosive middle hitter, in Saturday's State Championship match?
Will Chariho have an answer for Ephraim Abhulime, La Salle's explosive middle hitter, in Saturday's State Championship match?

No. 2 La Salle vs. No. 4 Chariho

WHEN: Saturday, Rhode Island College, noon

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: La Salle 15-3, Chariho 12-6

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, La Salle swept No. 7 Cranston East while Chariho did the same to No. 5 East Greenwich. In the semifinals, the Rams swept No. 2 Mount St. Charles/North Smithfield while Chariho upset No. 1 North Kingstown in five.

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: La Salle took to the road and defeated Chariho in five sets on April 25, then swept the Chargers in Providence on May 23.

TOTAL TITLES: La Salle 2, Chariho 1

LAST TITLE MATCH APPEARANCE: La Salle lost to North Kingstown, 21-25, 25-22,16-25, 26-24, 15-12, in the 2022 State Championship Match. Chariho lost to Hendricken, 25-20, 25-21,25-27, 25-12, in the 2010 State Championship Match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: La Salle beat Scituate, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 to win the 2007 Division II Championship. Chariho beat Coventry, 11-15, 15-10, 15-12, 15-10, to win the 1989 State Championship.

All-Stater Matt Tiernan will take to the court Saturday looking to bring Chariho its first volleyball state championship since 1989.
All-Stater Matt Tiernan will take to the court Saturday looking to bring Chariho its first volleyball state championship since 1989.

BRIEFLY: This might be the first state title match that doesn’t feature one of Rhode Island’s blue-blood programs. La Salle has been on the cusp of a championship for a while now and after falling in five last season, looks like the obvious choice to win on Saturday. Chariho has always found a way to contend in Division I and it looked like this season was going in that direction until Monday’s upset of North Kingstown. La Salle has two things Chariho doesn’t have an answer for in outside Jack Johnson and middle Ephraim Abhulime and expect 90% of the sets to go in their direction until the Chargers find a way to block either. Chariho might not have the size and athleticism of La Salle, but is better and more consistent with its passing and serve-receive. Chariho hasn’t won a title since 1989, but this is a match it isn’t supposed to win, so there’s really no pressure on the Super Chargers. Last year was supposed to be the season La Salle finally won the state title; this year really is. The Rams will have to manage the pressure and need to come out quickly to get momentum and take away any thoughts Chariho has of an upset.

THE PICK: La Salle

DIVISION II BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Last year, Aidan Hay and the Cranston West boys volleyball team were in Division I while Lincoln was in Division III. On Friday night, the teams will play for the Division II title at Rhode Island College.
Last year, Aidan Hay and the Cranston West boys volleyball team were in Division I while Lincoln was in Division III. On Friday night, the teams will play for the Division II title at Rhode Island College.

No. 1 Cranston West vs. No. 4 Lincoln

WHEN: Friday, Rhode Island College, 5:30 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: Cranston West 14-2, Lincoln 9-7

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, Lincoln defeated No. 5 East Providence in four games. In the semifinals, Cranston West swept No. 6 Central while Lincoln upset No. 1 Barrington in five sets.

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: Cranston West swept Lincoln at home on April 14, then defeated the Lions in five sets in Lincoln on April 24.

TOTAL TITLES: Cranston West 2, Lincoln 0

Last year, Wayne McNamara and the Lincoln boys volleyball team were handed a tough loss to Exeter-West Greenwich in the Division III finals; this year, the Lions roared at the end of the season and Friday will play Cranston West in the Division II title match.
Last year, Wayne McNamara and the Lincoln boys volleyball team were handed a tough loss to Exeter-West Greenwich in the Division III finals; this year, the Lions roared at the end of the season and Friday will play Cranston West in the Division II title match.

LAST TITLE MATCH APPEARANCE: Cranston West beat East Greenwich, 25-15, 25-19, 25-12, in the 2019 Division II Championship match. Lincoln lost to St. Raphael, 25-15, 25-15, 18-25, 25-16, in the 2019 Division III Championship match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: Cranston West defeated East Greenwich, 25-15, 25-19, 25-12, to win the 2019 Division II Championship. Lincoln has never won a boys volleyball title.

BRIEFLY: Cranston West was in Division I last spring and, moving down to Division II, was expected to reach the final. Lincoln was in Division III last spring, suffered an unbelievable loss in the semifinals, moved up — while the RIIL’s formula let the D-III champ remain — and played its best volleyball when it mattered most to reach the title match. The last time the teams met, the Falcons were battling injury but they’re fully healthy and, if they can pass like they have the last two weeks, should be in a good position to win this one. Lincoln has players with big-game experience and having a 6-foot-9-inch middle hitter is certainly a weapon Cranston West does not. The Lions need to find a way to use their size and athleticism to own the net and, if they can find consistency in the serve-receive, this match could get very interesting.

THE PICK: Cranston West

DIVISION III BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 Johnston vs. No. 2 Pawtucket

Last year, Jacob Muller, left, and James Guilmette celebrated on the court at Rhode Island College after defeating Exeter-West Greenwich in the Division III title match. With the Panthers be doing the same thing on Saturday afternoon?
Last year, Jacob Muller, left, and James Guilmette celebrated on the court at Rhode Island College after defeating Exeter-West Greenwich in the Division III title match. With the Panthers be doing the same thing on Saturday afternoon?

WHEN: Saturday, Rhode Island College, 2 p.m. (maybe)

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: Johnston 13-0, Pawtucket 11-2

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, Johnston swept No. 8 Central Falls while Pawtucket did the same to No. 7 Scituate/Prout. In the semifinals, the Panthers swept No. 4 Woonsocket while the Raiders needed four games to take down No. 3 Juanita Sanchez.

PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: Johnston swept Pawtucket at home on April 24.

TOTAL TITLES: Johnston 1 (Division III), Pawtucket 5 (5 Division II, all as Tolman)

LAST TITLE MATCH APPEARANCE: Johnston defeated Exeter-West Greenwich, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, in the 2022 Division III Championship Match. Tolman defeated East Greenwich, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19, in the 2014 Division II Championship Match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: Johnston defeated Exeter-West Greenwich, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, to win the 2022 Division III Championship. Tolman defeated East Greenwich, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19, to win the 2014 Division II Championship.

BRIEFLY: Johnston should have moved up to Division II with Lincoln after last season, but the RIIL’s vaunted formula left it in Division III and the Panthers dominated the division. Not only did Johnston go undefeated, it was also one set away from a perfect season with Scituate taking the lone set from the Panthers back on May 4. Johnston has experience at Rhod Island College, has done nothing but win and looks like a lock to go back-to-back. Pawtucket played tremendously over the last three weeks, dropping only three sets and, after its loss to Johnston on April 26, has now won its last nine matches. There is no pressure on the Raiders in this one, so if they can stay calm, stay loose and swing big, maybe they can turn the heat on Johnston and pull off the upset.

THE PICK: Johnston

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Previews of the 2023 RIIL boys volleyball championship matches