OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
After a slow start, Woonsocket sweeps away rival Raiders
WOONSOCKET — Diagnosing why a team is struggling might be difficult in most sports, but it’s rather easy in volleyball.
In the first game of Woonsocket’s Division IV opener with Blackstone Valley rival Shea, the Novans allowed the visitors to rattle off 13 of the game’s first 19 points to take complete control of the contest. Woonsocket’s issue was obvious.
“We figured out our communication,” Woonsocket senior middle hitter Aje’ana Coleman said matter of factly. “At first, we weren’t talking at all and we were really kind of sluggish. After Julia [Bernard and [Jahzarah Alexis], our captains talked to us and told us we had to hype it up and get going. We really did from that point on.”
Shea senior Allison Dos Santos Soares dominated the first 19 points of the match with her booming top-spin serve and her presence at the net, but the rest of the match was about a Novan squad with dreams of winning a division title in the state’s newest division. Led by the serving of Bernard, Coleman and freshman Julia Raymond, the Novans rolled to a 25-21, 25-15, 25-16 victory Wednesday night at Savaria Gymnasium.
The Novans ended the match outscoring the young Raiders 69-39.
“The girls won tonight and that’s a credit to them and their effort, but if we lose that’s my fault,” first-year coach Wayne Poitras said. “I won’t take credit for anything we do well. In this match, the kids were trying to force everything and I just told them to do what they know, believe in themselves and just relax. It triggered a spark and we won in three tonight.”
Woonsocket (1-0 Division IV) won just five matches in its last two seasons in Division II, but the foundation for a solid team was built under previous coach Wendy Mooney. Sophomore setter Bella Mencarini brings athleticism and skill to the front row, while Coleman, Rylie Forcier, Bernard and Alexis all have plenty of varsity reps under their belts.
The challenge for Poitras, who has coached at Bellingham High and Good Shepherd, is to mold that talent into a championship team. The Novans haven’t won a title since the 1989 squad won the state championship.
“My ultimate goal is to go undefeated and I just told them that in the huddle,” Poitras said. “I haven’t seen the other Rhode Island schools, but my first thought is we’re going to be tough to beat. I want to go undefeated, but there are always going to be a few kinks here and there and we’ll work through it.”
Shea (1-2 Division IV) served tough and played solid defense to build a seven-point advantage in the opening game, but that was as good as it got for the Raiders because the visitors stopped passing the ball inside the 10-foot line, which handed the Novans numerous free-ball attacking opportunities. Coleman and Alexis ignited a 19-8 run to close out the opening game.
Woonsocket continued to use the same formula – serve tough and stay in system – to control the middle game. The hosts fell behind 5-2, but they responded with an 8-1 run to take complete control of the game.
“Coach Wayne is a very detailed coach and he’s taught us a lot of things that are helping us and it’s coming along, even though we also have a lot of new players,” Coleman said. “No matter the sport, we always seem to get down, but we always push ourselves to get better.”