EG overcomes Northmen

North Smithfield starts fast; falls to unbeaten EG

EAST PROVIDENCE — In third-year head coach Brian Burnham, the girls volleyball program at North Smithfield High has been in very good hands.

Under his guidance and direction, you have that feeling the Northmen will someday reach the top of the Division II mountain. On Thursday night, North Smithfield ran into an East Greenwich squad that was pegged by many to easily waltz into the finals.

The Avengers had to sweat it out for a bit, but eventually the No. 1 seed from D-II South emerged with a four-set semifinal-round victory by scores of 20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 at East Providence High School. East Greenwich advances to face Cranston East in Saturday night’s title game at Rhode Island College.

“I’m proud with the way the girls have played all season,” said Burnham, whose crew was eliminated in the “Final Four” for the second straight year.

For the Northmen, which closed the season with a respectful 10-6 record that earned them the Nol. 2 seed in II-North, senior libero Rebecca Majeau had three kills and 13 digs while setter Jacqueline Eddy manufactured two kills, 14 assists, four aces, and 13 digs. Another senior, Lauren Murphy, had 13 kills and 13 digs.

The Northmen sent a loud and clear message that they were going to give the Avengers all they could handle.

That was made quite clear in the first game as a strong play at the net by Murray and an East Greenwich error contributed to a 20-17 lead.

North Smithfield rattled off the final four points in the opening contest with an ace by Murray serving as the as the finishing touch.

The second and third games featured plenty of back-and-forth action before the Avengers pulled to win by seven points in each game. North Smithfield trailed 19-17 in the second game before East Greenwich went on a run. The third game was tied at 17 before the Avengers closed on an 8-1 surge.

“We had a few plays get into our heads and we stopped playing our game,” said Burnham.

The Northmen continued to hang tough, particularly at the net where the Avengers owned a sizable height advantage. Alas, East Greenwich was trending upward while North Smithfield was scratching and clawing just to stay close. The Avengers turned in their most complete effort in the fourth game, jumping out to a 15-7 lead and never once looking back.

“Sometimes you make some mistakes and they get in your head,” said Burnham. “As a team, I can’t be happier with what we did this year.”

Photos by Jerry Silberman / risportsphoto.com North Smithfield setter Jacqueline Eddy (3) sets the ball to an outside hitter, while junior middle Morgan Kruzan (8, below) hits a roll shot in the No. 2 Northmen’s four-game defeat to No. 1 East Greenwich in the Division II semifinals at East...

Photo by Jerry Silberman / risportsphoto.com The North Smithfield volleyball team battled undefeated East Greenwich in Wednesday’s Division II semifinals, but the No. 1 Avengers came from behind to earn a four-game victory.

Photo by Jerry Silberman / risportsphoto.com North Smithfield setter Jacqueline Eddy (3) and middle Lauren Murphy (5) attempt to block East Greenwich’s Viviann Goulet (17) during the No. 1 Avengers’ four-game win in the D-II semifinals.