On redemption road, North Kingstown boys volleyball soars in test against defending champs
PROVIDENCE — North Kingstown boys volleyball trailed big in the third set.
The Skippers rallied down six points early just to have their comeback salted away later in the frame. But North Kingstown is an experienced bunch that earned the top seed in the Division I playoffs the last three seasons.
They relied on that veteran savvy and turned the deficit around and into a game-clinching run against La Salle, the state’s defending champion, for a straight-set, 25-21, 25-15, 26-24, sweep on Tuesday night in Providence. In what could be a way-too-early playoff preview and a rematch of the 2022 championship, the Skippers showed they’re ready for a deep run.
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The scary part? North Kingstown isn't even close to its peak.
“We have a lot we need to work on, but it's a great opportunity to be in a competitive, huge game, where both teams are looking forward to it,” NK coach Chris Batzinger said. “And that was kind of [the player’s] message to us, really more than us to them. They wanted to be in a big competitive match.”
Skippers not looking toward the past
The end of last season is rarely discussed by North Kingstown. The Skippers were upset by Chariho in the semifinals and lost their chance at a three-peat — but that was last year, and this iteration of North Kingstown knows that.
“Just try to forget the past,” Cody Tow said of this season. “It’s a new us.”
Tow managed 11 kills and Ryan Harrington added 10 with eight digs as NK stormed back in the third set. Down, 19-15, late, the Skippers rattled off nine of the next 13 points to lead 24-23 before claiming the frame.
“It’s just about playing at our best every game,” said Quinlan Fahy, who had seven kills and five digs. “No slip-ups. That Chariho game was tough but just [focusing on] the little things this year. I think we're a good team and we can play anybody, so it’s just making sure we do it at the right time.”
Playing the defending champions early was trivial to the Skippers and they welcomed the big game. And now they won’t have to face the Rams again until mid-May.
By then, North Kingstown, although already winning convincingly, could be rounding into playoff form.
“I don't think it mattered as long as we played them [at some point],” Fahy said of the early test. “I think it was good that we got a win early in the season against them. So, we have confidence going against the rest of those teams.”
Batzinger said: “We want to focus as much on figuring out who we are through the first eight games, that's kind of been our formula. Then maybe focus on little tweaks and adjustments based on who we’re playing in the second half. But they're hungry; we don't need to really say anything.”
Evan Shea had 32 assists for North Kingstown.
La Salle falters
Just as North will come to its playoff form later this season, so will the champs.
“Just rebuild and have a hard practice tomorrow,” the Rams’ Ephraim Abhulime said. “We'll see them again at their place, so that'll be fun.”
La Salle found its footing in that third set as Abhulime, at 6 feet 6 inches, found success at the net and serving short. Ty Cotta managed 18 digs and David Green had six blocks. The serves are new for Abhulime, a Journal All-Stater last spring.
“By the time we see them again, we'll definitely sharpen things out,” Abhulime said. “And I feel like we’ll get better all around.
“We can hang with this team. It's just, we need to learn to keep our leads towards the end of the set and not get too comfortable.”
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Kingstown boys volleyball soared in test against La Salle
