By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Pilgrim boys volleyball team was swept by top-seeded North Smithfield/Mount St. Charles last week in the Division I Semifinals on the road.

Despite a close first game in which the Northmen held on for the 25-20 win, the Pats were unable to match their production in the final two as NS/MSC cruised to 25-14 and 25-18 wins to punch its ticket to the championship game.

“Their setter moves the ball around a lot and that is what we worked on. That and our defense and those right side hits because they have a power hitter on the left. Our blocking was crucial for us tonight and we had a lot of blocks, but it just didn’t go our way,” said Pilgrim coach Jason Metivier, who was thrilled to see his club back in the postseason despite the loss. “It’s huge. In the 18 years that I have been a coach at Pilgrim, we only missed the playoffs once. It’s getting through that semifinal round, that has been a barrier for us.”

Getting over the tough defeat in the first game - in which Pilgrim also held an early lead - caused trouble in the final two, according to Metivier.

“I think that first game just deflated us. That’s kind of been the curse of Pilgrim, we are in it and then we fold. We walk a lot about intensity, being positive and keeping our heads up, and they did do great in that first game. Then they started missing some serves in the second game, giving them more free balls, more opportunities and they just kept coming at us,” Metivier said.

Pilgrim will be graduating six seniors, leaving the team with few returners next season. Key players graduating include Azael Alvarez and John Mixner. The Pats will be relying on returners Eli Kearns and Ayomikun Falano to lead the way as they hope to get back into the playoff picture.

“We’re losing a big group this year. I’ve had these guys since they were freshmen, unfortunately they lost out on the COVID season which hurt them. They were my only returning players, so we’re really young and brand new,” said Metivier. “We have some solid guys on JV and we have two juniors returning. It will be a rebuilding year but we’ll be set up pretty well (for the future).”