Pats poised for big season

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 4/14/15

In 2012, the Pilgrim boys’ volleyball team captured the Division II title.

The Pats then made the move to Division I for the 2013 season – knowing that it may take a few years to find some …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Pats poised for big season

Posted

In 2012, the Pilgrim boys’ volleyball team captured the Division II title.

The Pats then made the move to Division I for the 2013 season – knowing that it may take a few years to find some success among the state’s best.

Pilgrim certainly took its lumps, particularly in the first year, winning jut three matches.

But the Pats stuck it out and showed steady progression in year two, doubling their win total to six.

So, as they enter year three in Division I, the Pats feel that they’re ready to take the next step and compete in a big way.

“We have a lot of guys back who have experience from last year,” Pilgrim head coach Mike McGiveron said. “Our guys have high expectations for the season. Our core group has now been playing together for four years now.”

The Pats are 2-2 thus far in the early weeks of the season, but feel that they have a favorable portion of their schedule coming up, as they lost to South Kingstown and Coventry – two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in D-I.

The Pats will be paced by two seniors – Rob Quaine and Blake Doelling – who will serve as Pilgrim’s biggest hitters this season.

Junior Ethan Schneider will also be a key contributor and will assist Quaine and Doelling with the hitting.

At setter, seniors Luke Phaneuf and Greg Goodinson have been impressive early on and should provide experience this season at that spot.

Junior Dan Peladeau will serve as Pilgrim’s libero this season, while another junior, Jeremy Plante, should also contribute in the back row.

Senior Anthony Stevens and sophomores Jamil Martey and Zachary Johnson will push for time at the hitter positions. Stevens is primarily an outside hitter, while Martey and Johnson are promising middle hitters.

Others on the roster are Persio Dalumba – a senior who is playing for the first time, but is picking up the game well – fellow senior, Evan Adams, and juniors Elias Pariseau and Nicholas Yehle.

McGiveron will be assisted by Jay Metivier, as the two will be entering their sixth season together. According to McGiveron, Metivier has done a tremendous job in helping to develop players.

There’s nothing spectacular about a 2-2 start, but McGiveron is happy with where his team’s at heading into the bulk of their D-I slate.

The Pats have another tough match-up at 4-0 Mount St. Charles tonight at 6:30 p.m., but then their schedule becomes lighter, with the next three matches coming against Exeter/West Greenwich, Chariho and Barrington – three teams that have combined for just one win in 12 tries.

Despite some struggles, McGiveron is happy with the move that his team made to Division I in 2013. It wasn’t easy to start, but just three years later, the Pats are poised to have a big year.

“We knew we were going to take some lumps because D-I is much faster,” McGiveron said. “But we wanted to move up because we had a solid group. It’s been great to see steady progression every year.”

The Pats are aiming for a high playoff seed when the season is all said and done. Not only do they believe that a high seed is attainable, but the Pats are hoping to do some damage when the playoffs roll around.

“I think we’ll have a great season,” McGiveron said. “Hopefully we’ll peak at the right time.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here