Clippers can’t hold off Oakers
Cumberland still in search of first win after loss
CUMBERLAND — The Coventry girls volleyball team is in a race against time. The window of opportunity for them to discover their true identity is rapidly growing shorter with each passing day and subsequent match in a season noticeably shorter than any other.
Based purely on a wins and losses standpoint, Monday night’s 3-0 sweep (25-11, 25-19, 25-15) on the road against Cumberland has the Oakers trending in the right direction, with their record now sitting at 2-1 on the year, but head coach Jonathan
Bartlett is focused more on the bigger picture.
“Still trying people at different positions and working stuff out at practice,” he said. The Oakers’ starting lineup remains a work in progress, one that Bartlett and assistant coach Leo Bush are working to perfect over the span of a limited timeframe.”
Senior setter Haley Fornuto posted 30 assists in the winning effort, while her younger sister Olivia, who plays the same position, capped the night with six assists to go along with six kills.
Outside hitter Madison Lupino turned in a solid performance, racking up eight kills and three assists, while senior Kelsey Conway contributed six kills and two assists of her own in a match that took just over one hour to complete.
“Hopefully we’re starting to put it together, but again, the season is short. We’re just trying to overcome our own mistakes on our side of the net,” said Bartlett.
Up 12-6 in Game 1, Coventry caught fire, riding a 13-5 run en route to a 25-11 win, but found the middle game to be more challenging.
A 4-0 lead for the visitors was quickly erased by the Clippers who won each of the next four points, capped by an ace from senior setter Morgan Vinacco. Junior Nicole DiSalvo gave the home team a 15-12 advantage following an ace of her own, but Coventry was able to turn it around from there, reclaiming the lead at 1918 and never looking back.
A 10-3 start to Game 3 proved more than enough for the Oakers despite a last-ditch comeback effort on the home team’s end, with Bartlett applauding their overall play on the night.
“Cumberland kept getting the ball back to us. We needed to keep making plays, otherwise they would have beaten us, ultimately. They did a nice job putting some service pressure on us and keeping the ball in play,” he said.
The Oakers will be back at C. Arthur Flori Gymnasium on Wednesday against Cranston West, a match that will serve as the team’s home opener following three straight road contests to open the year.
For the Clippers, now 0-4 on the year, 2021 continues to be a struggle from a wins and losses perspective, but head coach David DeJesus remains confident that his team is on the right path.
Monday’s loss boiled down to executing some of the game’s basics.
“It’s mainly that first ball, making sure that we can get it over and get it to the target,” he said.
“That’s the main thing for us. We have lots of skill on our team, but we just lack some confidence at times.”
Featuring a roster comprised entirely of juniors and seniors with the exception of sophomore Samantha Murphy, Cumberland is in prime position to get back on track, but still has their work cut out for them.
“We’re doing better this year. We’re stronger talent-wise, but we’re still working on that mental piece and how to win,” DeJesus said.
The Clippers will try again for their first victory of the season on Wednesday when they play host to Barrington.