Prout Volleyball Wins Opener vs. NK

WAKEFIELD – The Prout Crusaders girls’ volleyball team won their season-opener Wednesday night, beating the North Kingstown Skippers in three straight games, 25-12, 25-19 and 25-23.

“I expect to be in the hunt to win another championship” Crusaders head coach Kevin Greene said. “This team has strength all around.”

Heading into her third year as the Skippers head coach, Vicky Tefft is happy with what she has seen of her team so far.

“We're young and have a lot of new players to varsity,” she said. “They all have a lot of enthusiasm, like each other and love the game. That isn't something I can teach.”

In the first set, Prout Junior Tori Jedson served for the first four points before North Kingstown's Moira Crocker broke serve with a kill. The Crusaders quickly gained the upper hand until a block by Skippers’ junior Amelia Weitman shut them down.

Once again, Prout came back swiftly and moved the set to 7-3, forcing Tefft to call a timeout. Prout's poise showed though, and junior Jenna Walsh served for six straight points, keeping North Kingstown off kilter. The set ended 25-12

The second set was much closer, and the young Skipper team seemed to hit their stride, taking the Lady Crusaders a little by surprise.

North Kingstown senior Michaela Polom got the team off to a quick start, serving four straight points. The Crusaders battled back to 6-5 before junior Riley Martin was called for touching the net.

They regrouped when junior outside hitter Brooke Sullivan spiked the ball to regain serve. Polom then returned the favor by breaking the serve of Prout senior Becky Rogers with a kill threaded through the middle. A nice block by Jenna Walsh kept the score tied at 13.

Prout then pulled away to win the set 25-19 due to several unforced errors in the backcourt by the Skippers.

North Kingstown kept the game close in the third set. Walsh was serving down 19-18 when Greene called a timeout. The Crusaders regained the momentum, going up 22-20 before a net ball on service gave possession to the Skippers.

Some extreme volleys played back and forth between the teams before the serve went back to Prout. With the game tied at 23, an out of bounds serve by Prout put the ball back in North Kingstown’s hands.

Despite their best efforts and a great block by seniors Joanna Chatham and Moira Crocker though, the Crusaders swept the match with a third set win at 25-23.

Dominating the court in this game for the Crusaders were Walsh, Brooke Sullivan and Libby Sullivan. For the Skippers, the go to players were seniors Crocker, Polom and Weitman.

Prout plays 6:30 p.m. Monday at East Greenwich. North Kingstown hosts East Providence 6:30 p.m. Friday.