Girls' JV Team Eyes Volleyball Title

For an undefeated team, they rarely draw much of a crowd. But the 17 sophomores and frosh on the Barrington High School girls JV volleyball team don't seem to mind.

"They're energetic, they're happy, they're lighthearted," said coach Christian Lambert.

And late Friday afternoon, the girls will play for the state championship against East Greenwich in Barrington's gym. They'll also put their 19-0 regular season and their 4-0 playoff records on the line.

"They're eager to learn, a very coachable team," said Lambert, who also coaches the high school boys' team. "They want to be the best. They're a very driven team."

It's also the first time, said Lambert, that the team's starting seven girls all have plenty of experience.

Lambert is particularly pleased with the play of libero Alexa D'Adamo, a sophomore who was named MVP of the JV tournament last weekend.

"She gets the team going," he said.

Lambert said the setter, sophomore Amanda Ansager, is the straw that stirs the offense. And the team's strength is the offense, he said.

The two outside hitters, sophomores Olivia Minardi and Abby Finan, are the go-to players for kills. Sophomores April Keenan and Riley Ooton play great in the middle. And sophomore right-side hitter Kate Carrara more than holds her own.

But it's the overall service game, Lambert said, where the girls really shine. Each girl can be counted on to drive or float a serve from the floor and in the air.

"They really seem to like to serve," he said.

Volleyball fans can expect to see most of this team move it's way through the high school ranks as a unit after this year. It could be some great years for girls' volleyball down the road.

P.S. The girls wouldn't mind seeing a crowd at Friday's game. It starts at 5:30 pm.