Skippers Boys Volleyball Start Strong in Pre-Season Matches

Despite a scheduling snafu, the North Kingstown boys volleyball team took away three of its four injury fund games Monday afternoon in preparation for the team’s opener on Friday.

The Skippers were scheduled to play the Chariho Chargers, but due to some confusion regarding the schedule the Chargers did not arrive in time for their game. Instead, the team played a scrimmage amongst the seniors and juniors until their game against the East Greenwich Avengers.

North Kingstown won a close match in their first game against East Greenwich. The score was within one point for most of the match until the Skippers went on 4-to-0 run to take a 23-19 lead. The Avengers battled back to close the gap to two points before North Kingstown closed out the match with two final points for the 25-21 win.

The second match saw North Kingstown open up a 10 to nine lead and never look back as East Greenwich failed to come within more than three points as the Skippers nabbed the 25-19 victory.

North Kingstown followed up their sweep of East Greenwich by splitting a pair of games against the Pilgrim Patriots.

The Skippers handled the Patriots with ease in the first game, building up a lead that reached a high as eight points and ultimately ended 25-18.

North Kingstown started strong with a 3-0 run, but Pilgrim rallied to tie the game at 11. From that point on the two teams traded the lead, but Pilgrim held off the Skippers to win 25 -23.

Skippers’ head coach Joanne Fitts was pleased with her team’s performance overall.

“They worked hard on blocking and talking,” Fitts said. “They kept the ball alive and communicated well.”

North Kingstown is hoping to continue its run of success following last year’s semi-final appearance.

“Our expectations are to get to the playoffs and get as deep as we can,” Fitts said.

Fitts says this year’s team may not be athletic as it was in years past, but have other qualities that work in their favor.

“Their teamwork, spirit, and hustle make up for it,” Fitts said, adding “We’ve got a lot of depth this year.”

The team’s regular season kicks off Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Cranston against the Cranston East High School Thunderbolts.