Top 50 Boy’s Volleyball Players in RI…Ever…
8/5/25
When I saw the Projo article…well, I was a little annoyed. I had been planning this article for a while and got beat to the punch… Regardless, it’s a good idea and per usual I have to top what was done already. So, here we are…
Naming the top 50 boys high school volleyball players is a daunting task. Fifty seems like a lot, but it’s actually not. Boys volleyball in RI started in 1987 and 38 years later, we’re trying to figure out the top 50 players out of what, 12,000 players that have competed?
Of course, I can’t stop there, either. How about naming as well the top premier and most influential volleyball players from Rhode Island post high school? Yeah, let’s do that too.
Piece of cake…
Ok, let’s begin.
(Note: Some guys will get bigger write ups then others because some I know more about. If you’re on this list, regardless of the write up, you were pretty damn good and the list is the recognition that matters over my words.)
(Second Note: Of course, this is my opinion…I created a committee to help me, and they’ve given their input, but as always, I make the final calls on these things. I’ve done my best to get it as right as I can get it…but in the words of Coach Harrington…there is no way to get “right.” What I did learn through this experience is that it is remarkable the different opinions on different players. I’d offer up a certain guy…two people on the committee would give the affirmative, one would say not sure, and then the other two would say nope…at least not at that number. Secondly, some opinions got a little heated. People take this stuff personally…which is why, I guess, you write about stuff like this. No matter what you choose, people will talk about it and let you know if you’re on the right track or an idiot. I’m probably both, but you can never say I don’t put thought into what I’m doing.)
(Third Note: All of the information I’m providing in this is to the best of my knowledge…plus my opinion is naturally sprinkled in. Certainly, I’ve had some help, but as per usual, it’s ultimately me calling it like I see it…see Second Note. Please accept my apologies if I have it wrong in some degree.)
The Guys that helped Me:
Mike Harrington - Head Coach Bishop Hendricken Boy’s Volleyball
Corey Maack - RIIL Volleyball Official / North Kingstown Girls Volleyball Coach
Bob Arruda - RIIL Volleyball Official
Dan Greene - Former RIIL and NCAA Official / Former RIIL Volleyball Coach
Kevin Harrington - Former RIIL Volleyball Coach
Top 50 Rhode Island Boys Volleyball Players:
Rocco Baldelli - Class of 1998 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin - The myth! Rocco is known throughout the RI volleyball universe as the benchmark. He was the premier example showcasing the difference between a good athlete and a professional athlete. He went on to play in the MLB for the Rays and Red Sox and is now the skipper for the Minnesota Twins. He’s so well regarded that no one questions that he was the top guy even though there is no video of his performances (easily accessible anyway). He’s the Bo Jackson of RI boys volleyball, as his stories of play feel almost unreal. What is real is that he had a full offer to UCLA (it’s worth noting that Coach Al Scates had just won the NCAA championship in 1998 (his 17th) and thought Rocco could be the future) and turned it down to play professional baseball. Bill Belichick is rumored to have said that Rocco was the best athlete he’d ever seen to that point…he was with the Cleveland Browns at the time and called his buddy in the Indian’s organization about Rocco. He’s also the example often given to showcase the mistake of changing the seasons in 2003 as now baseball guys cannot play volleyball as the seasons clash…which is an absolute shame. He would deliver the first Bishop Hendricken state title his senior year…kicking off the Hawks eight total championships (only Coventry has the same amount total). He was also a cheat code for Coach Harrington. Harri would say, “I’d just send my middle to double block the outside…no need to worry about the opposing middle and opposite. Rocco would take care of it.” Thus, with all that on the table, and with all the respect in the world for everyone on this list…Rocco is one.
John Harper - Class of 1992 - North Kingstown - Pin - Harper is another mythical beast. As I started talking to people about this list, his name obviously came up a lot. Finally, someone asked me, “Didn’t you move to RI in the early 90s? Did you see Harper play?” The answer was no. Though I did move to RI in 1992 and was conned to play volleyball for East Greenwich that year, I did not see Harper play. Harper only played against teams worthy of his time and East Greenwich, at the time, was not (I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his choice. Don’t want to sound like he was massively arrogant, because I never met him nor knew him, so I wouldn’t know). I did see him do work in hitting lines… Every ball he struck sounded like it was shot out of cannon. Coach Harrington called him Superman, which right there is enough for me. North Kingstown would win their first two state championships through him (first back to back championships in the league ever). He’d go on to be a monster for Roger Williams and his lore, though a tic behind, would stay roughly neck and neck with Rocco throughout the passing years.
David Rufful - Class of 2007 - Bishop Hendricken - Middle / Pin - The winningest man in Bishop Hendricken history. The fact he’s not been retired at BH in the hall of fame is a little bit of mystery to me. Rufful, like Rocco, was focused on a different sport other then volleyball. He was a basketball guy who played volleyball because volleyball and basketball have very similar footwork. He’d go on to play basketball for Dartmouth and have a fine career in the Ivy League. It was during his Hawk days when he won four state basketball championships and four state volleyball championships. That means, Ruf won two state championships every year of his high school career…and it’s arguable that he played a huge role in six of the eight…and showed up big even in the two where he may have been a secondary character…may have been… I got to interview him for my ResV Interview Series and it was a great conversation about those volleyball high school days. He’d play middle for BH for his first three years, then transition to outside his senior year. I tease Coach Harrington that this move, taking your premier middle and making him a pin for volume sets, helped ruin RI high school volleyball…because coaches now try it all the time, and none of it works like it did with Rufful. He was a NCAA D1 level athlete playing volleyball with ice water in his veins and a fierce determination to win.
Zack Stedman - Class of 2001 - East Providence - Pin - Truthfully, I didn’t know who Zack Stedman was until I started coaching college volleyball at Johnson & Wales. By that time, he was long gone, but I was dealing with the empire he and Andy Chase had created. Tracing it all back to his East Providence days, it’s clear he’s the top guy the Townies produced. Bob Arruda called him, “A man among boys.” East Providence has only won three state championships…two were with Stedman leading the way. He was dynamic and fearless. You’ll note that when describing lots of these guys, the same superlatives pop up. It’s commonly the combination of athleticism and mental toughness that makes winners and Stedman had it in spades. The other thing I kept hearing about him was how great a guy he was. That’s the other key that people forget…being the man, but also a great teammate…that’s how special things happen. Stedman would go on to be a force for Rivier College and help create a dynasty from New Hampshire that wouldn’t fall until 2020…that’s 15 years after Stedman’s final match for the Raiders. For this list, however, it was his tenacity and power that put the Townies on the map after the near misses that elevates him to the top.
Brad Borsay - Class of 2010 - Chariho - Pin - I met Brad in 2008. I was hired to be the Chariho boys basketball coach and Brad played. He was a 6’4 sophomore at the time who was a good athlete, moved well, and had length. I knew his brothers, Nick and Kevin. Both were great guys and Brad was going to follow suit…to this day he’s still one of my favorite people to run into. He was a solid basketball player…good defender, solid overall scorer, but everyone knew that volleyball was going to be his thing. Kevin had been a stud and Nick was solid too, so it wasn’t a stretch to think Brad would be the next volleyball Borsay. To hear Pete Weremay talk about it…“Nick and Kevin are good, but Bradley will be next level.” Next level he was. By his junior and senior years, Brad was a 6’5 horse on the pin. Practically unstoppable at the time, Brad would be selected first team all state as a junior and senior. Senior year he was the top overall vote getter. Brad would take a Chariho team that was upset in the quarters a year prior to the finals in 2010…succumbing to a Hendricken side that was riding a wave of destiny. Brad would go on to play his college ball at Sacred Heart having arguably one of the most decorated college careers for a D1 guy from Rhode Island. From there he’s continued playing as you can see him working for the professional VLA team Boston Bounce.
Scott Grandpre - Class of 2006 - East Greenwich - Pin - The nicest kid to play. I’ve already written a whole thing on Scott Grandpre when I wrote an article that highlighted the top guys I’ve coached in my career. You can find that article here, middle of the content. Grandpre was a force…high volleyball IQ, hard working athlete with bounce, trained by Dan Greene, and a genuine love of playing volleyball. He was asked to be the foil for one of the top, if not the top, teams in RI boys volleyball history…the 2005 to 2006 Bishop Hendricken Hawks. You’ll see plenty of the names from that Hawk team on this list as we go on. That team was loaded for two straight years and the only guy they truly feared was Scott Grandpre. Now, was this entirely fair to Scott? Not really. Grandpre played for East Greenwich who didn’t have another guy in the same universe as Scott or the immensely talented Hawks…but Scott’s level was such that EG was the matchup that the Hawks cared about. The Avengers would scare the Hawks slightly a couple of times, but truly there wasn’t much to be done against that juggernaut with the overall personnel EG had. Grandpre would put on a show admirably, none the less, and be the top vote getter for all-state in his senior season, if memory serves. He would go on to play his college ball at Sacred Heart, graduate and coach at the college level for women at Simmons College, and now is the guy behind AAU New England.
Ray Nalette - Class of 1994 - Coventry - Pin - The man child. When I first saw Ray Nalette in 1993, I thought that dude was talented, had a solid beard for 17, and he came to bring the pain on the volleyball court. Now, at this time, I was just a basketball guy who’d been roped into volleyball. My brain would say, I could take this cat on the hardwood…Ray did play for Coventry in basketball, and at that time Coventry basketball was not too strong…but I was powerless in Ray’s world. Most people were. He was a devastating attacker. Lots of heat on the ball and he could direct it anywhere he wanted. Premier server, jump top spin with stank on it that caused lots of uncomfortable passing scenarios if not aces. Nalette would usher in two state championships in his day. He was was the most physical guy in his era and his battles with Chris Blute and Brian Garrepy from North Kingstown were must see events. The 1994 playoffs for boy’s volleyball may have been the best ever with numerous contested matches that lasted deep into the night (back then, it was side out scoring). Coventry would prevail in the final in a five set thriller with some of the best volleyball I’ve ever seen. Nalette was a monster in that playoff run and his legacy is also the first back to back championships in Coventry’s history.
Dan Fanning - Class of 2005 - North Kingstown - Middle - Fanning shared a similar situation to Grandpre in that his teams were not top tier, but his level was supreme. He was the top middle in the league for two years running and was asked to do way more then what normal middles should do. These were the lean years for North Kingstown. Starting in 2000 and ending roughly in 2007, the Skippers would only muster one winning season during this time period…in 2002. The only time worse for North Kingstown would be the 2017 and 2018 seasons where they’d miss the playoffs entirely. Fanning, during this period was the outlier. Easily 6’6, Fanning was long, athletic, and had an arm. When things were good, he was unstoppable. When things were on the adventure side of town, he was dynamic enough to be set from anywhere to score. Problem was, they’d live past the adventure side of town into Shanksville more often then not…all Fanning could do then was just watch. He was a premier blocker…you had to account for him at all times, and he could serve well. While the Hendricken Hawks were cementing their four year dominance run, Fanning was considered the other big name to vanquish. Fanning was Ephraim before Ephraim and was a high college prospect his junior and senior year. He would not go to school for volleyball, however, selecting a different path…but every once in a while he’d come out of the woodwork to play in a grass tournament here, a beach tournament there…maybe even a Yankee tournament at the local community college. He and I would finish third at Harri’s grass tournament one year as Fanning would carry my sorry butt to improbable win after improbable win. Great guy, and one of the best to do it in RI history.
Kevin Harrington - Class of 1997 - North Kingstown - Setter - The killer lefty. I’ve written a long article about Kevin already. You can find it here. He was the guy who kept me in the volleyball world…because in my mind, no one looked cooler playing the game then Kevin. Coach Harrington told me that Kev was real good, but what made him other worldly was his ability to turn on a pass and attack. As a lefty with a real good whip, he would terminate 80% of the time with that play…no one else had it or could stop it. Kev would also be the benchmark for players, inspiring greats like Garrett Bucklin and the 2006 crew of KMac, Fuller, Grandpre, and Delsig…just to name a few. He won championships everywhere he played and of course would go on to be a stud in college after a quick coaching stop at NK.
Steve Fuller - Class of 2006 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin - Ok, ok…I’ve mentioned the legendary Hendricken Hawk side of 2005 to 2006 once already. They were certainly one of the best RI high school boy’s volleyball teams…and I’ve already spoken about Rufful. Let’s talk about Steve Fuller next. When you talk about really good teams, a lot of the time it’s because you can’t focus in on just one guy. You can get in Rufful’s way, but then Steve Fuller was going to get you. Maybe you could get in the way of both Rufful and Fuller…then Delsignore was going to carve you up. Maybe all three have an off night…well, then perhaps McDonald punishes you with setter attacks for a bit. They were all really good. Ruff was the man, and Fuller was next. Fuller was around 6’3, if memory serves. He was long and lanky. Solid ball control, mean arm, and was a handful at the net both as an attacker and blocker. When things got real…and truthfully it didn’t happen too often to this crew…Fuller was getting the ball. He could get through the block, use it, or just blast deep into the court with ease. They’d run Fuller out of the back row, where he must have hit .600 every year. He was truly a shut down blocker as well, causing all sorts of issues for teams that were left side heavy. His battles with Grandpre were top tier, probably another reason they all loved playing EG. Fuller would go on to play club ball for Boston College and get his law degree.
Chris Safford - Class of 1989 - Chariho - Setter - The maestro. Safford would be the engine for Chariho long before Chariho would find it’s legs in boys volleyball on the relatively consistent basis we know today. He was real good and inspired many to take up the game. He’d go on to have a solid career at Springfield College, Coach at Johnson & Wales, and also Coach at his high school alma mater. The man knew the game inside and out and when he heard I was taking the JWU job, he quipped, “You’re going to learn a lot now.”
Brendan Baker - Class of 2019 - Bishop Hendricken - Middle / Pin - The only opposite that Evin Giglio feared. Before coming to JWU and being a menace on the right, Brendan Baker was a hammer for Bishop Hendricken. He played middle and sometimes pin for the Hawks. Bakes had that strong desire to win and Coach Harrington helped shape and cultivate that drive. He’d win a championship his junior year and then drop a heartbreaking five set loss in the championship his senior year to South Kingstown. At 6’5, with a real good arm, and a disciplined block, he’d do a quick tour at CCRI before I saw him and snatched him up for JWU.
Corey Maack - Class of 1991 - North Kingstown - Setter - The Mixer. I met Corey Maack at a volleyball practice at East Greenwich. I’d not heard of him before, so he was just tall and could obviously play. I was new to the real game, and so I was poor in closing a block and a kid hits around me for the kill…Maack runs up and yells at me, “If your going to block that poorly, I should just go home now. What the serious f^%k, Reslow!?!” That was my introduction to Corey. He was all of 6’6 in high school and would captain North Kingstown to a championship at the setter position. A D1 prospect, Maack would give it a go for a year and then return to Rhode Island where he’s been a fixture in the volleyball world ever since.
Kevin Edwards - Class of 1997 - Classical - Middle - Purple Eddie. He was a premier player on a team that was really rough around the edges. This scenario happens quite a lot in RI…see Dan Fanning for starters. Edwards ran middle for Classical and was more often then not the best player in the gym each night. Kevin Harrington would describe him as “Just fantastic” and Bob Arruda would nudge, “Res, he has to be in the top 20!” He’d go on to play for NYU and have a solid career, which also says it all. I met Purple Eddie when my volleyball career in Yankee started. He was dynamic and another of the crew that Shippie and Harri hung out with. Great guy, and another guy that people would wonder what he’d accomplish if he had been on a more skilled team in high school…though they were plenty skilled at NYU so I guess he did just fine.
Kevin Borsay - Class of 2003 - Chariho - Middle - The middle Borsay. It just dawned on me that all three Borsay’s have different positions. Brad was the OH. Nick, at least when I met him when he was playing for URI was on the right. Kev is the middle. Just like his brothers, Kev is a wonderful guy…hard working, tough, and was a presence you had to account for when on the floor. He’d have a great career for Chariho, being a menace in the middle, and then do the same thing beyond high school. So much so, that Kevin was included in the RI Legends team I’d create every year to play against my JWU team. My instruction to the JWU middles in the match was simple…watch Kevin Borsay run middle and do it exactly like him.
Ephraim Abuhlime - Class of 2024 - La Salle Academy - Middle / Pin - The top middle prospect…ever. Ephraim is a force of nature. I wrote about him as well in the article of about the top players I’ve coached. You can find it here. The big fella is 6’6 and was a track star in long jump…which tells you already the guy has springs for legs. He was a natural in the game, with a good arm already built in. All he had to do was learn the ropes. Once he did, the sky was the limit. He’d win two state championships for the Rams and be the focal point his senior year, though out of position… In my opinion, there has not been a better middle prospect in the state. He’d go on to do a tour of duty at Merrimack before transferring to Pepperdine where he is today.
Mason Andrade - Class of 2022 - North Kingstown - Pin - Scott Grandpre 2.0. Mason is the culmination of hard work, intelligence, and a fearless pursuit of knowledge. I’ve not worked with another player who was as relentless with asking questions and then applying the answers he received. He was aggressive in the weight room as well. He just wanted to be the best volleyball player he could be and nothing was going to distract him from that. I wrote about him as well in the article about the best kids I’ve ever coached. Again, you can find it here and it’s in the middle of the content. Andrade would win two state championships for the Skippers. The first one, he was a cog in the machine. The second one…he was the machine. He’d be the first RI high school player to be named an All-American by the AVCA. He was premier in the club circuit as well, leading South County to new heights…which is where I coached him. Lastly, he’d go on to play for Wentworth where he’s been a starter since his freshman year…he’s yet to not win a conference championship. His ResV Interview is here.
Frank Field - Class of 2013 - Coventry - Middle - Frank was a premier guy for the Oakers who utilized him in the middle primarily…but if you know anything about Coventry volleyball, they’re rarely conventional, so Frank would be the weapon all over the floor. Field was the first kid I ever saw do the championship belt celebration…I thought it was corny at the time, but now it’s a relatively common one. Standing 6’4 ish (my memory of heights is always iffy) Field was the engine that led his Coventry side to an undefeated season and getting a 3-1 win over Ryan Casci’s South Kingstown crew. Field was borderline unstoppable all year…so I guess he had every right to do the championship belt celebration, Reslow, you old fuddy duddy. He’d go on to be a top beach player from RI, after a stop in England, and is currently playing all over the country.
Chris Knight - Class of 1995 - Coventry - Middle - The mysterious middle. Honestly, I saw his Coventry team play many times…even played against him…and I can’t remember at all what he looks like. I can remember the sound it made when he hit the ball. I can remember him hooding me, as well as Chris Blute in the 1994 final, but his image in my brain is this fuzzy, unclear picture. None the less, he was a monster for the Oakers. If you managed to annoy Nalette into an error or two…Knight would come finish the job. I can’t explain enough how hard those two guys were to deal with in that era. Knight would win at least two state championships, 94 and 95…I just can’t remember if he was a factor in 93…my gut says he was. He had great arm and was just as physical as you could imagine at the net.
Dylan McClung - Class of 2021 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin - They listed Dylan at 6’6, but I always felt he was taller then that. McClung was guy who I also considered to be one of the best players I coached. Dylan was consumed with the desire to do it his way and his way only…supreme confidence in his abilities. He was a top tier competitor and had a brilliant arm. He was also fearless. No matter the situation, he demanded the ball, and he was unafraid to fail. There aren’t many guys out there like that. McClung’s career would obviously be altered due to the nonsense of 2020 through 2022, but he did take a team to the finals, almost by himself…coming up just short. It seemed a strange finish that Dylan would be denied by a kid that just happening to move to RI for a single year who could stop him…and be the only guy in the state able to stop him…Sebastian Yates. Strange coincidences like that have happened before…but really only on the girls volleyball side of things. Regardless, Dylan would go on to play for Sacred Heart and now Webber College where he’ll be on their beach volleyball team.
Jerod Tessier - Class of 2017 - Mount Saint Charles - Pin - Tessier really helped put Mount Saint Charles on the map in volleyball. Plus, if it weren’t for Jack Pincince and Tristan Kozul, Tessier would have had two state championships for the Mounties. He was undersized, but extremely dynamic. Build similarly to Mason Andrade, Tessier was able to manipulate matches through ball control and unexpected strikes from the left. He was really good at hitting sharp angle and getting around blocks. Though never getting the state title, his MSC side would achieve it the year after he graduated, Tessier was a back to back first team all-state selection and in one of those, the top vote getter.
Brian Garrepy - Class of 1995 - North Kingstown - Pin - I know the coach. I know the coach well, as he was my assistant at JWU for a decade. I did play against him in high school, but the memory is very vague. Bri was talented, high level, and was a pin that loved the combination plays. A product of the old North Kingstown way, that still lives to this day…combos on frees…Garrepy was as good as anyone to do it. He was a six rotation pin who, when healthy, could bring it. Injuries would keep him from taking the crown as he and his skipper side would fall twice to Ray Nalette’s Coventry. Though Garrepy would go on to be one of the top coaches in RI, few remember that he was a beast on the floor in the beginning.
Sebastian Yates - Class of 2021 - North Kingstown - Pin - It was craziness. I had just lost my gig at JWU due to the madness of the times. Luckily, South County VBC had an opening, and I was able to continue to be a part of the volleyball world…regardless of the craziness. At the same time, a kid from Las Vegas, moved to North Kingstown, RI. Sebastian Yates. Yatesy could ball. In fact, he joined South County and became our horse for the 18-1s. We also had Dylan McClung and Mason Andrade…but Mason wasn’t Mason yet, and Dylan was still figuring out how to adapt to my way of volleyball… We were an interesting side, but Yatesy was our gun. When the awkward club season came to a final, Yates would be the guy for NK, but not initially. It took some time for everything to finish the way it was supposed to. In the end, Yates was the arguably the best player in the state and the only guy in the league that could stop Dylan McClung. Yates was a premier at everything, but was especially good at blocking. Finally playing six rotations on the right, Yates was able to get Dylan enough to ensure an NK victory…and like that…he was gone.
Matt Tiernan - Class of 2023 - Chariho - Setter / Pin - I interviewed Matt Tiernan for the ResV interview series a while back. He had just won the RI HS player of the year award and led his team to upset North Kingstown in the semis. What Matty had just accomplished was actually quite remarkable. A decorated high school and club setter his entire career, he switched to left and became the volume attacker for his team. I remember thinking that this was going to be an adventure for him, as it would be a huge new stress on his shoulder that wasn’t used to hitting the ball 30 times a night. He persevered and had himself a huge season. His crew would succumb to an overpowered La Salle side in the final, but Tiernan’s high school legacy was cemented.
Ryan Harrington - Class of 2025 - North Kingstown - Libero / Pin / Setter - Little Harri! Ryan Harrington had a lot to live up too, which is always challenging. When your Dad is arguably the top RI boys volleyball coach in the league’s existence…Let’s just say if you go into volleyball, the pressure might be there. If it was, it never looked like Ryan felt it. I’ve worked with Ryan a bunch and he’s as solid as they come. Anything he wants to accomplish in volleyball he can. His IQ for the game is top tier and he makes plays regardless of the situation. He was a top pin for NK and also ran Libero early on for the Skippers. I always felt he could set at a high level as well…and we tried it a lot in the club world. You want your setters to be really strategic and Ryan is exactly that. Luck would never follow him, really, in his high school campaigns. He’d only win one state championship, when his team was in line for all four. Nonetheless, my favorite Ryan moment was in his senior year at the finals. Down two games to none, Ryan got going. He played out of his mind for the next three sets…bringing the Skippers all the way back. They’d end up falling, but his performance was gutty, tremendous, and cemented his career as one of the best.
Marc Bayha - Class of 1996 - Toll Gate - Pin - I knew Bayha from the basketball scene well before I understood his level in volleyball. He was a top tier point guard who would go on to play D1 ball at Rider. However, he was also a maestro in volleyball. He was another Dan Greene taught player and was able to control the pin well at only 5’11. Bayha was a gifted athlete with leap and a solid arm. He also saw the game well and could make things happen. His Toll Gate side was in the mix often…would taste the semifinals his junior year and the quarters his senior year…where he was basically doing what Scott Grandpre and Dan Fanning had to do…be the guy by himself. I remember playing him once when I was a senior at EGHS. He tore us apart quickly and efficiently. He would be a three time all-stater in volleyball and another story of “I wonder what type of player he’d be”…like Rocco, Rufful, and others…if he had played volleyball in college and beyond.
Chris Blute - Class of 1994 - North Kingstown - Pin - There is a newspaper clipping, that I have somewhere, of me hitting a ball past Chris Blute. Proof positive that I could jump a little and volleyball should have been my future in college…instead I played basketball…womp womp. Blute was scary. Not as scary as Nalette, but in the same conversation as Nalette…Garrepy as well. Out of those three, I remember Blute the best, as for some reason I had a knack of getting in his way. Nalette, Garrepy, Bayha, and other powerhouses of the era, would chew up our little East Greenwich team. For some reason, though, I had Blute’s number and would make him miserable. Three blocks here, twenty kills there, and Blute would be looking at me thinking what the hell got into that guy? NK would survive us…meaning instead of an easy three sets, it was a competitive three sets, and Garrepy, Hesford, and others would get the stats. Meanwhile, Blute would play everyone else on the schedule and get north of twenty five kills each night…but not against Mr. Reslow. No Sir. Sometimes you just have someone’s number. Blute had a cannon for an arm. He also had great net presence and was just a weapon that rarely could be stopped. When things would get serious between NK and Coventry, it was often brutal battles between Ray Nalette and Chris Blute that decided things. He’d be an All-Stater junior and senior year and would go on to play club ball at Umass Amherst.
Ryan Casci - Class of 2013 - South Kingstown - Pin - Casci was your standard high flyer. I remember catching a game against Coventry as I wanted to see Frank Field play. I walked in right as the first serve commenced. Solid pass from some SK guy, setter chucks it to the ceiling to the left and…woah! Casci was that left and went up for the attack and just kept going up and up! It was like the dude was shot out of cannon! By this time, I had a guy just like that in Shawn Kennedy from Barnstable, MA…but I’d have loved another one. All of sudden, to me as the coach of JWU, this match was really interesting as Field and Casci were top prizes to be won in the state. I’d get neither, but that match was fun to watch. Casci was solid in all facets of the game, along with his giant leap, and would be a two time first team all-state selection and win a championship in 2012. RI players tend to be difference makers at the next level…JWU, Rivier, Endicott, and others can attest to that. In the end, Casci would go to Ramapo and play two seasons with the Roadrunners cultivating with a top performance of 17 kills against NYU.
Brendan McGrath - Class of 2019 - Coventry - Pin - I saw McGrath play quite a bit in 2019, mainly because he was a recruit, but also because Coventry high school was near where I live. For that reason, I love when the Oakers have a good side, because it doesn’t take long for me to find a seat in their old gym and watch whomever the top players are in the state. McGrath was smooth, with a solid jump and an electric arm. His serve was nasty and he had the standard ice in his veins, that Coventry guys tended to have. His senior year would be his most dominant. Coventry was ranked 1st. They’d dispatch Cranston East (the #4) easily and then see Hendricken (who had went on a run, upending the #3 - La Salle and #2 - North Kingstown seeds to get to the final. McGrath would put on a show with the final would just be a Coventry coronation instead of a match. He’d win all the awards in 2019…and be a two time first team all-stater as well. McGrath would go on to URI and be a factor for the Rams in the club scene at the next level…it’s hard to remember a more dominant senior seasons then his.
Steve Ribeiro - Class of 1995 - East Providence - Pin - Ribeiro graduated the same year as me, but I have a very hard time remembering him. That says more about me then it does about him. Getting old is a drag. He was a gutsy smaller pin who had an arm and an attitude to match. Pins tend to be very confidant guys. More often then not, if trash talk is on the menu, it’s coming from the pins…though sometimes the middles can be worse…way worse. Anyway, Ribeiro’s East Providence teams were an absolute pain to deal with. He’d lose in the quarters and the semis on the back half of his career, but both were wars going five and four sets, respectively. Ribeiro would be another two time first team all-state guy and guys like Bob Arruda and Mike Harrington would note that Ribeiro was well worthy of making the top 50.
Tom Ambrose - Class of 2003 - Coventry - Setter / Pin - I got a front row seat to see how good Tom Ambrose was in high school. In 03, I started my volleyball journey with East Greenwich high school and coaching with Dan Greene. That year’s Avenger squad had some very solid players like Jon Bentsen and Kevin O’Leary. Unfortunately for us, there were monsters in the league that year…Omar Ajaj, Kevin Borsay, and Tom Ambrose. Tom would dash my Avengers run. Ambrose was a little bit of everything for the Oakers that year. In fact, it was Ambrose who cemented the idea that Coventry just plays the game of volleyball different then anyone else. Massively confident, with athleticism and skill to match, Ambrose would slice up opponents. He’d set in the back row and be a menace in the front row. He had an electric, unconventional arm, while also a unconventional volleyball mind. He’d attack on two, attack free balls, set over in weird spots, pass balls over to open spots on serve receive…all the while laughing at the frowns his antics would create. He was the first bad boy of volleyball I’d seen, and he relished being the villain in everyone’s volleyball story. He was damn good though, and if not for a car accident to their middle Jon Bartlett (who survived (thankfully so), though was pretty beat up at the time…note, he’d go on to coach for Coventry (still does) and has won numerous state championships as the Oakers’ skipper, but miss that final, Ambrose would have probably won the whole thing his senior year. He still played admirably in the final, but without Bartlett, they had no one who could get in the way of Omar…and Hendricken would seal the deal…Coach Harri’s third title (He’d win five more!). Ambrose would go on to play for the PVL and then start his own volleyball company called Swing City, coach club, all while being a high level guy from RI on the beach and grass circuit.
Garrett Bucklin - Class of 2014 - North Kingstown - Setter - Garrett was Kevin Harrington if Kev wasn’t shy. Easily one of the most likable guys I’ve met in my travels in volleyball. He’d be killing you…whether as a pin or a setter (and at the college level, Libero too)…see your frustration, and then give you the smile and say, almost soothingly, “It’s just volleyball, man. We’re all out here having a little fun.” That was his way of making everyone feel good, but make no mistake, he was a killer on the court. If you took Bucklin for granted because of his size, you did so at your own peril. He may have been 5’9, but he was highly skilled and his drive and competitiveness were off the charts. Similar to Kev in a lot of ways, Bucklin would be hard to dislike even when he was dismantling you. He would win a championship in 2014, in one of the wildest title matches I’ve ever seen. It would be North Kingstown’s fifth, and Coach Joanne Fitts’ final as she would pass away shortly after from cancer. In that match, Bucklin would play at a ridiculous level and his efforts were the key to the Skippers pulling the match out from the Oakers in five. He would be selected twice for first team all-state. Bucklin would go on to become an All-American at Rivier and is now a top beach player in the region…even representing the U.S. Virgin Islands on the international scene. His ResV Interview is here.
Al Greene - Class of 1996 - North Kingstown - Pin - You may be sensing a pattern now. Guys I played against in high school that are not Ray Nalette, Chris Blute, or Brian Hesford…I have hard time remembering them. It’s like my brain can picture the silhouette, but nothing else. Al Greene may be the worst of it, as I really got nothing here. Perhaps he didn’t see run in 1995 when I was a senior… Arruda, Harri, and Kev all urged Al to make the top 50 and it works for me…the problem was, where does he go. Ultimately, through all the stories I heard, I like him at 33. Kevin Harrington described him as big and powerful…a guy who hit a heavy ball and was a confident back row guy. Most importantly, he was a good dude. Every set was a good set to Al, whereas most everyone complains about the location, as setters know all to well…Al would just hit the hell out of what he was given. Al would win a state championship in 1996 and be an all-state selection.
Cal Butler - Class of 2016 - La Salle Academy - Pin - When I think of Cal Butler when he played in high school, it reminded me of a more polished version of Jack Pincince when he was at South Kingstown. 6’1 or 6’2, with real good bounce, and a live arm, Butler was a handful on the court. He passed better then Pincince, to be sure, as he was a sure six rotation guy for the Rams. In fact, Butler was probably the first guy for La Salle to be a true problem in volleyball. There had been other players, obviously, but the top tier level that we now see from La Salle starts with Cal and also Luis Vasquez. Cal would be a two time all-state selection and he’d lead his Rams side to a semi-final and finals finish…both ending in defeat. Still, those teams could ball and, really, La Salle hadn’t reached that level before him. Butler would go on to play his college ball at Sacred Heart and is now running the boy’s side of the RI Blast Volleyball Club.
Eddy DelSignore - Class of 2006 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin - The Lawyer. I love DelSignore. There is no one else you’ll meet that will absolutely tell you like it is than Eddy. As a player, Ed was the pit bull type of pin. Getting blocked only made him mad. The more mad he got, the more physical exertion on the next approach and swing. He would go through you. He would also not stop until he went through you. Rufful was the premier. Fuller was the all American boy. Winning smile, the whole nine. KMac was the “Golly, gee, wiz, guy” who wanted you comfortable so he could let you have it. Like Larry Bird. DelSig? He was the confrontational guy. Though never disrespectful, Eddy had ways to let you know it was going to be a long day for you. He’d never back down and he’d let you know. He was built like a truck. Huge arm! Ultra competitive. He could serve the ball what seemed like 200 miles per hour. He’d win many grass tournaments with just that weapon. His 2006 team would not let a team past 22 in the playoffs…all three set sweeps. He’d be selected twice to first team all-state in his career. Post high school, DelSig would go to BU and play club there. He’d also be an assistant coach for a bit at Providence College as well. His ResV Interview is here.
JJ Bessette - Class of 2011 - Bishop Hendricken - Setter / Libero - The coolest person I know is JJ Bessette. You can find my write up about him here in the middle of the article as he was one of the best guys I’ve coached in my career. In high school, he was asked to play Libero and Setter. He did both so well he named All-State for both! That is kind of rare…see Matt Tiernan, Ephraim Abhulime, Garrett Bucklin, Luis Vazquez…and that might be it for guys who were selected for this team and changed positions (to my knowledge anyway…I’m sure there were others). J’s cool, calm, and collective demeanor was very similar to Kevin Harrington and Garrett Bucklin. Guys love to play volleyball with him. Success found him through the level he attained and the group of guys that wanted to win games with him. He’d win two state championships for Bishop Hendricken and he’d go on to be come the all-time assist leader in JWU men’s volleyball history.
Keith Martinous - Class of 1990 - East Providence - Middle - I met Keith Martinous on the Yankee circuit. He was playing Opposite at the time and doing a real nice job of it. I later would learn that he was the head coach for boys volleyball for East Providence. From there he’d become an assistant coach at Bryant where he’s still at today. I may have missed some of his steps along the way, but that’s the gist. Plus, he was a heck of a player for East Providence. He ran middle, was a two time all-state selection, and took his team to a semi-final finish in his senior year. He’d play a season at Roger Williams where he ranked 9th in blocks in the country. To me, Keith is one of those guys that flies to under the radar in the volleyball world. He’s been successful at all the levels as a player and a coach and his volleyball footprint is way larger then people realize.
Brody Pickman - Class of 1992 - North Kingstown - Middle - Pickman was a high flyer for the North Kingstown Skippers and one of the middles that during this time period everyone was measured against. The connection he had with Corey Maack and Mike Shippie would lead to a lot of wins in an era of highly contested play. Brian Garrepy talked about how he watched a playoff match where Pickman hit a ball out of the back row with such force (back then, pipe balls out of the back row were not really a thing) that it inspired him to play. Kevin Harrington would have a similar story about Pickman…”so much fun to watch you wanted to play.” As you’ll see below, the dual with Alex Butler in 1992 is legendary where the two middles just did work back and forth until no one had any gas left. Pickman would be a two time first team all-state selection winning the first two state championships for North Kingstown in their historic existence.
Alex Butler - Class of 1992 - East Providence - Middle - As the legend goes, Butler and Pickman would do battle in the 1992 finals…a match that has to go down as one of the top matches played with all the chips pushed to the middle. Butler would give as good as he got in that one and the match would be decided 16 - 14 in set five to the Skippers. I know what you’re thinking, 16 - 14, that’s crazy! However, it’s more then that. Remember they played to 15 with sideout scoring back then. So, a 16 - 14 is nuts in rally scoring with previous sets to 25…it’s absolutely thrilling bonkers in sideout scoring to 15. AB was a basketball guy who found some love of volleyball and became quite accomplished with it. He was a premier athlete who was just naturally good at anything he touched. He’d go on to get his number retired at Rhode Island College where he had a tremendous basketball career. He’d also coach both the boys and girls volleyball teams for East Providence while becoming the Athletic Director for the Townies in the process. AB is a guy I always like running into and he’s been a premier force in RI athletics both on the court and in the administration side of the aisle.
Jack Pincince - Class of 2017 - South Kingstown - Pin - Big Jack. The rumor at the time was there was this pin for South Kingstown who was built like a man and could absolutely destroy a ball. Well, I had to go see that as I was always looking for game changing pins to help JWU in the conference. When I finally saw him, it was like the scene from Major League when all the players are arriving for spring training and Rick Vaughn gets dropped off by a guy on a Harley with only a garbage bag filled with clothes…one of the coaches says in that moment in both awe and fascination…”Look at this f%#kin guy!” Big Jack was jacked! He had great springs and his arm was as advertised. He was instantly my number one recruit. Then the story got weird. Jack would have an indiscretion that would get him suspended at the end of the season. Ok, that’s tough, but the idea was that he’d have to sit the playoffs. Well that was the plan till they lost the first set of the finals…all of sudden Big Jack was on the floor. South Kingstown would go on to win it all with Jack, but to save face, he was not allowed to be considered in the awards. So, there is no all-state award for him, which is criminal. It would turn out plenty ok as he would go on to be a stud for Johnson & Wales until the fall in 2020. From there he’d win games for URI and now is one of the starters for Boston Bounce of the VLA along with coaching club for South County…perhaps assistant coach for Wheaton College as well! His ResV interview is here.
Omar Ajaj - Class of 2003 - Bishop Hendricken - Middle - Omar and I were in his car traveling to a match in Connecticut. All of a sudden, a call came in that he had to take for business. At the time he worked for a unique RI jewelry company. I sort of zoned out as it was none of my business, but then I heard Omar’s voice change and he said, “Do not mistake my kindness for weakness…” I was alert then. Omar was the RI high school boys volleyball version of the Brazilian volleyball superstar Giba. He was a physical specimen. Armed with good looks, style, and an arm, Omar would bring down the house any time the Hawks would play. As the story goes, he was JV for a day, or was it a week, at Bishop Hendricken…and that was his first time playing. From there, he’d go on to be one of the, if not the, best middle in the state. I can still picture him getting huge kill after huge kill in the 2003 final against Coventry. Huge swing, ball bounced, he’d land, bounce up with his long hair thrown back, big smile. Rinse and repeat. He was also a talented blocker and had the ability to shut down the net against all opponents. Coach Harrington would say Omar was one of the biggest, strongest, athletes he ever got to coach. The Hawks would stun Coventry in the 2003 final and Omar would be named first team all-state for his efforts.
Kevin McDonald - Class of 2006 - Bishop Hendricken - Setter - KMac. There is not a more humble top tier player in the high school world than Kevin was. Most top guys know they’re good and have this confidence that oozes from them. KMac truly was this “Aw shucks” guy who ran the offense to one of the top, if not the top, teams to ever do it in the 2006 Bishop Hendricken boys volleyball team. Please do not misconstrue, Kevin was plenty confident in his abilities. He was a better then advertised blocker, made real good decisions with the ball, and was always a weapon to attack. His serving was precise and he could stay in the pocket and make digs. However, if you asked him about any of it, he’d give this big smile and then laugh…”I don’t know, Res. I just try to make good things happen.” Add that he was cool and calm when things got tight, plus a very good leader of a team that was chock full of personalities, and you got yourself a very good setter and rightfully on the top 50. KMac would naturally be an all-state selection in his career and win two state championships.
Chris Byrnes - Class of 1990 - Coventry - Pin - The precursor to Harper. To hear Corey Maack talk about him…”He was the first guy to fear in the sport. Was around 6’1, had huge hops, and when he hit the ball it sounded different.” Byrnes would begin the legacy of big, powerful, pins for Coventry that would lead up to Ray Nalette and then fluctuate down to guys like McGrath and Roth. Byrnes would be the man that led the way for Coventry’s first state championship, which would land him first team all-state honors…and probably the most amount of votes as well. He was a tough nosed volleyball pin who had the hammer to change matches…which he did a lot of times.
Zach Turner - Class of 2016 - Coventry - Middle - It’s not often a 6’8 monster is in your backyard. Luckily for me when I was at JWU, Zach Turner was that monster and he was a couple of minutes down the road. Turner was all of 6’8 and he had a very good arm. The only issue the big fella had was that he was goofy footed, but that never truly stopped him from being a force. He’d win a state championship in 2015 and his team would get upset in five sets in the semis in 2016. Both years, Turner was a problem for every opponent, as you had to worry about Zach and know where he was at all times in the front row…which would free up Cam Roth to do work. For two years straight, Turner would score at will and block at a real high level. He’d be a two time all-state selection and go on to play at JWU…getting some rookie of the year nods from the GNAC in his first season in 2017.
Jeff Van Der Veer - Class of 1998 - North Kingstown - Pin - One speed Van Der Veer. I remember sitting at a park with Kevin Harrington, Pete Sir, and Jeff Van Der Veer. We had just gotten done playing grass and they were all telling stories. That’s where I learned about the One speed Van Der Veer. There was no finesse to Jeff’s game, which is really a gross misrepresentation as Jeff could ball, but it was fun to say then. He would just bring the heat every time. Sometimes he’d win, sometimes he’d lose…but he never got cheated on swings. Teaming up with Kevin Harrington at NK, Van Der Veer would win his championship in 1997…his junior year. He’d be a two time first team all-state selection and his style of play was always a fan favorite. Like Kev used to say, “Hit the ball hard, no matter what something cool is going to happen.” Jeff lived that philosophy. He and Kev would go on to be solid partners on the grass and beach as well.
Evan Noel - Class of 1991 - Coventry - Pin - Noel was a lefty pin who was also feared in the league in the early 90s. You can imagine that in 1990 you had to deal with Chris Byrnes…but if that wasn’t enough for you, Noel was coming in hot as well. As with Byrnes, Noel would win Coventry’s first championship in 1990. He’d garner all-state awards in three of his four years of high school…Two second teams and one first team. Noel was another monster from the past that lurked in the Oakers lair and help set the scene for the type of volleyball we see today.
Dan Gould - Class of 2018 - Mount Saint Charles - Libero - Generally, good Liberos can help you in big time moments…keep the ball in play when you should have lost the point. Rarely do you win a championship with a Libero. Dan Gould would be the exception to the rule. Gould was exceptional at the Libero position. He’d make plays that kept his side in the ball park…outlasting the comp. Gould would win his championship in 2018, Mount Saint Charles first. If you look at it now, with the passage of some time, you can ask who really thought this was their year in 2018? They had lost in the final the year before and graduated arguably the top weapon in the state (at least 1A or 1B). Regardless, MSC would make a run and before one knew it, they were in the final. I remember that match well, as JWU hosted the event. Gould was superb that day and really was the factor that tipped the scale for The Mounties. Solid passer, great defender, set well in transition. He’d garner two first team all-state selections and is now the coach for Mount Saint Charles girls volleyball program.
Bill Cook - Class of 1995 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin - Mr. Cook was a volume pin back in 1995. To hear Kevin Harrington talk about him, “Cook got the ball a lot, and put up ridiculous numbers, especially his senior year.” His teams would finish in the quarters and semis respectively, culminating is a first team all-state selection in his senior campaign. He was 6’2 and not really a volleyball player, but just a real good athlete…which is what Coach Harrington obviously excelled at. Good athletes that were not volleyball players were sort of his specialty. Cook was another build up guy for what was to come for Bishop Hendricken high school. If it weren’t for Cook and the level he showcased, it may have been harder to get guys like Rocco, Rufful, Fuller, DelSignore, KMac, Omar, Teeden, etc. etc. There had to be early guys, like Byrnes, Safford, the list goes on, for every program…but the point is that Cook was one Hendricken’s early guys that led to all the history that we now know of today.
Dustin Baker - Class of 2008 - East Greenwich - Libero / Setter / Pin - Dustin was one of the premier athletes in the state during his time period. Standing only 5’7, Bakes could fly. He was also lightning quick and had could volleyball instincts. He’d play three different positions for the Avengers…excelling at all of them. Senior year, he’d be recognized as first team all-state selection for leading his team to the final four. Two things that made the 2008 East Greenwich boys volleyball team especially interesting…First, they made it to the semis with nobody over six feet tall. All the starters, plus libero, were six feet or under. Baker was asked to be the focal point of the 6/2 that year, setting out of the back row and passing / attacking in the front row. Second thing that was interesting about them was they were the team to defeat Bishop Hendricken to stop their undefeated winning streak. In 2005, The Hawks lost two matches, yet still won the whole thing. They would go undefeated in 2006 and the 2007 seasons. It would not be until their first match at East Greenwich in 2008 when the Hawks would finally taste defeat at the hands of Dustin Baker and crew. You can also read about Baker in my article of top guys I’ve coached here.
Matt Leydon - Class of 1998 - East Greenwich - Pin - My favorite moment with Matt Leydon was we were waiting in his car to pick up another guy for a league night volleyball match. It’s dark and the guy hasn’t come out yet. So, Leydon and I start talking about nothing…when all of sudden, the music in the car turns to Wonder Boy by Tenacious D. He looks at me…”What do you think about Jack Black?” I responded, “I think he’s deceptively talented.” “Me too!” Then we sang the rest of the song together…even when our other teammate hopped in the car. Nerdy? You betcha, just like me, but Matty is another wonderful guy I’ve met in the volleyball world. He was a lefty Opp from East Greenwich and was probably on the most talented EG team the school would see (to date). He’s another disciple of Dan Greene…which meant he played smart volleyball and was usually in the right place at the right time. Now, this EG side had the unfortunate timing of being in the era of Rocco and Van Der Veer, but nonetheless they could ball and did snag the 3rd seed in the tournament. Then, they were upset in the quarters in a five-set thriller by Chariho which I think nobody saw coming. North Kingstown, the #4, would also be upset as well in the first round of the playoffs that year. Leydon would be an all-state selection, when EG guys weren’t getting a sniff of that type of accolade, and was probably the top weapon the Avengers had those years.
Honorable Mention (in no particular order)…
Cam Roth - Class of 2016 - Coventry - Pin
Jack Vacarro - Class of 2015 - South Kingstown - Setter
Jake Reynolds - Class of 1997 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin
Andy Richardson - Class of 1998 - East Greenwich - Pin
Josh Baker - Class of 2008 - Toll Gate - Pin
Hudson Greene - Class of 2019 - North Kingstown - Pin
Sam Gross - Class of 2009 - South Kingstown - Pin
Nick Borsay - Class of 2001 - Chairho - Middle
Neil Forbes - Class of 1997 - North Kingstown - Middle
Ryan Buglio - Class of 2015 - Coventry - Setter
Nick Tift - Class of 2001 - North Kingstown - Pin
Jack Kenyon - Class of 2024 - Westerly - Pin / Middle
Matt Teeden - Class of 2003 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin
James Roch - Class of 2008 - Toll Gate - Setter / Pin
Luis Vasquez - Class of 2016 - La Salle Academy - Libero / Pin / Setter
Jacob Roy - Class of 2019 - North Kingstown - Libero
Jahmir Evans - Class of 2025 - La Salle Academy - Pin
Cody Tow - Class of 2025 - North Kingstown - Pin
Brian Hesford - Class of 1994 - North Kingstown - Middle
Jon Rodriguez - Class of 2013 - Central - Pin
Stephen Dufour - Class of 2025 - North Kingstown - Libero
John Kane - Class of 2012 - Bishop Hendricken - Pin
Jack Johnson - Class of 2023 - La Salle Academy - Pin
Mike Shippee - Class of 1993 - North Kingstown - Setter
Cody Tow - Class of 2025 - North Kingstown - Pin
Michele Picozzi - Class of 2019 - Coventry - Libero
Trevor Arp - Class of 1990 - Toll Gate - Pin
Jeremy Rainha - Class of 1994 - Coventry - Middle
Brett Stetson - Class of 2010 - North Kingstown - Pin
Charles Pincince - Class of 2025 - Cranston East - Pin
Tristen Kozul - Class of 2016 - South Kingstown - Pin
Top Premier and Influential Volleyball Players and People Post High School…
(In no particular order)
Rocco Baldelli - The legacy and legend continues to this day. People still take up the game in high school because of his story. He’s also the benchmark that everyone measures players by. Influential personified.
Dan Greene - Greene played at Toll Gate and was an all-state selection in 1987. The game was pretty new then in RI and the level was what it was. It’s his career afterwards that is most impressive. He’s one of the Godfathers of RI volleyball and was a huge influence in the level and heights it became. Danny would coach and win championships. He’d be a huge member of Team RI, a Yankee team back when Yankee was semi-pro…VLA before VLA. Team RI would win tournament after tournament with Greene setting and running the show partnering up with other heavyweights of the scene. Greene was also a highly respected high school and college official for both genders. Lastly, and probably not nearly as important as the other accomplishments noted, he was my mentor during my infancy in the game. We would coach together at East Greenwich high school for a little while. I’d go on to be a middle for his Team RI as well. He was even there a little when I dabbled in officiating. If there ever is a RI volleyball hall of fame, DG, and probably all the guys on this list, needs to be in there…and DG should be first ballot.
Booh Brennan - I asked Bob Arruda about Booh…where did he attend high school? Bobby thought somewhere in Mass, and I thought that’s too bad as he wouldn’t fit here. However, Arruda quickly piped up, “He’s got to be on there Rez, he’s lived in RI forever. Grandfathered in!” Works for me. If you read the above blurb for Danny Greene, you’ll note I said he team up with other heavy weights of the era. There were not many heavier then Booh. First, you know you’re really good, when you’re only known by a single name. Secondly, Booh was a premier pin in the region for so long. Arguably the top guy. Top beach guy in RI for a long period as well. Booh and DG would make their arrival on the scene taking a URI club team to the national finals. From there, they created the Team RI that would win a lot in the Yankee leagues. Booh would be known throughout the region as “The Guy” and his talent and competitiveness would rule for almost a decade (maybe more depending on who you talk with). He could be tough to play with, as his expectations were high of everyone, but he’d snap back into the wily fun trickster as soon as you left the court. It was always hard not to like him. I guess the proper story to sum up Booh is when he was well past his prime, he was still selected to represent Ireland in beach volleyball for the Olympics…though he and his partner did not make it out of the prelims that year and thus never went.
Chris Safford - Safford was instrumental in my taking of the JWU men’s job. He had the gig for a while and then was just focusing on the high school scene, but loved the idea of me taking the reigns. To hear Corey Maack talk about him, “He was just so good. Not just kinda good, but so good, that I just wanted to be like him.” Safford would go on to have a solid career at Springfield and then, as mentioned before, coach at JWU as well as Chariho. He was the architect of the Borsays…at least two of them…I don’t think he was around for Brad. He was the guy who trained so many solid setters for the Chargers. Under his reign, Chariho was known for scrappy defense, solid setter to middle connections, and very tough minded players…you knew when you saw a Chariho kid, they were going to not stop till the final bell. His influence on the game, especially in his particular region continues to this day as Chariho is always in the mix when there is a net in the center of the room.
John Harper - Again, I don’t remember Harper at all, nor did I ever get to meet him, but like Rocco his legend lives in perpetuity. Harper would go on to play at Roger Williams and this is significant. Why? Well, RWU are the original kings of men’s volleyball. They were coached my Mike Holden, who went on to coach club for URI afterwards, and they would be a national power. It's hard to find their history now. Many schools have covered up their pasts…see Rivier, JWU, and others…and so the part of the story gets lost. I will say this, I’ve met and played with guys who were a part of the RWU NCAA teams and they all say Harper was a big deal then as well. I remember doing the media guide for JWU men’s volleyball and there was a section where we’d have the records against each team…The Wildcats were 0 - 15 against Roger Williams…and this was even during the Safford years as well. So, the Harper legacy lives on and though it’s hard to find evidence of anything anymore, the oral stories, like the Vikings, must be past on to each generation. I hope I’ve done my part.
Pete Weremay - The Worm! If I remember the stories from Danny and Bobby…Pete was athletic and eager. He could jump, but it would take some time before the Team RI guys would bring him on board. That story sounds similar to mine, which may be why I consider Pete one of my favorite people to see. Once solidified, The Worm would cause havoc on the pin and in the sand. He was a handful and I truly think the RI team hit it’s peak when DG was setting, Booh and Worm were pins, Sunshine was in the middle, and the other spots were fill in…whether it was Ray Capes, Big Man, myself, Bulla, whomever…those four just did damage. Worm would also be very solid on the beach, playing with Booh and others. Lastly, his sense of humor is tremendous… So, why influential? Well, I’ve been in the region for 20 years, and all the high school kids attempt to play beach to get better. It’s a wise move. For at least 15 of those 20 years, I could ask almost all of them how they faired against Pete Weremay. They’d say, “Who?” The Worm. “Oh, yeah, The Worm! That dude is really good. Super nice too. Helped me with a couple of things. Isn’t he a ref?” Everyone knew The Worm.
Zack Stedman - Stedman would go on from EP to be one of the cornerstones that Rivier College Men’s Volleyball would build on. He’d have a stellar college career and as mentioned in the initial write up on him, the legacy that he built with Andy Chase would last 15 years!
Corey Maack - Whether his presence is on the North Kingstown sideline as the coach or whether he’s your top official…you’re going to know Corey Maack is in the building. He’s tall, got a huge presence, and his sense of humor is top tier. He’s influence on the game has been gigantic from winning in high school to coaching to officiating. Throughout it all, Maack has been a fixture in RI volleyball and another guy that everyone has a story with.
Kevin Harrington - His influence is monumental. Kev would go on to have a solid career at Rivier before being taken off the board with one of the toughest injuries you could hear of in our sport. Still, with all the coaching and playing he did in his career, his influence still reverberates in Rhode Island.
Andy Chase - To hear Kev talk about Andy Chase…”Chase was not great in high school at EP, but at Rivier, he was the real deal.” The big fella would figure it all out in college and go on to be an All-American for the Raiders. Chase would also lead a Rivier squad to the Molten Final Four…the only Northeast team to do so. The expectation of dominance in Raider country truly began with him and Stedman. He was the first monster middle for Rivier…a formula that would follow well into a decade past his career. Chase would be the top weapon in the first couple of years for the Northeast PVL side too, once again showcasing that the big fella was one of the greats. Beach, grass, on the court, there have not been many better from RI than Mr. Chase.
Matt Fereira - I remember seeing Matty do work as a junior at Rivier at the BU. Every year, Boston University men’s club hosts a preseason tournament of which all the schools play at. Rivier was there, and Matt Fereira was tearing things up in the that tournament. They’d play Newbury in the semis that year and Matty would have to deal with Mark Thomas who was another brilliant player. Both middles would battle…I believe both middles would be All-Americans too. Matty was long, physical, and a super blocker. Just a premier guy. He’d win championships and awards and continue to tradition of incredible middles for Rivier. He’s play some beach afterwards. Nonetheless, there aren’t many more decorated then Matty and Andy in the secondary level from RI.
Jared Andreozzi - Jared was a 6’4 middle in high school…problem was, his high school didn’t have a team at the time. Barrington had not started their program yet, so this bouncy middle had to find club to get on the floor. Once he graduated, he went to Rivier and boy, did he take off. Jared would become an All-American on the pin for the Raiders. He would fly over top of most blocks and just had a cannon for an arm. Paired up with Matty Fereira, Scotty Wright, and others…those Riv teams were scary to deal with.
Brad Borsay - Real good career at Sacred Heart. Top tier baller in the VLA. There isn’t much that Brad hasn’t accomplished in the game and he’s still getting some reps in for Boston Bounce from time to time. One of the best guys you’ll know. A true ambassador of the game.
Garrett Bucklin - Real good on the beach and grass. Represents the U.S. Virgin Islands on the beach. Achieved All-American Status at Rivier. Coached club in RI and CA, plus was an assistant coach at JWU for a hot second as well. Bucklin’s volleyball influence cannot be denied with many camps and clinic employs as well.
Mason Andrade - First high school All-American in RI history. Has been starter at Wentworth his entire career. Has won a GNAC championship the three years he’s been there. He’s all been an all conference selection for the GNAC all three years he’s been active. Solid on the beach and grass as well. May play overseas to get his masters.
Ephraim Abhulime - Had a monster first year at Merrimack where he helped turn the program into a destination. Then, the coach left for Alabama and thus Big E entered the transfer portal. He was scooped up by Pepperdine. He’s easily at the biggest program ever for a RI boys volleyball guy and it’ll be exciting to see how he does from there.
Gabe Felicetti - Felicetti was a solid enough middle in high school, but really took off when he went to college. Playing for Endicott, Gabe flourished and become an All-Region selection. One of the better blockers in the region, his offense also took off allowing the Gulls to make some serious runs in the country.
Tom Ambrose - Ambrose’s level of play when he was on the PVL was really outstanding. He’d also coach for numerous organizations…Bryant University, Roger Williams, and South County. Add his Swing City stuff, and you have a guy who has made an impact in the volleyball world that rolls pretty deep indeed.
Dylan McClung - From playing at Sacred Heart to working with NTDP beach volleyball, McClung has continued to make his way in the volleyball world. His attending Webber to continue is education and play beach is another huge step for a RI guy paving his way.
Scott Grandpre - Maybe Grandpre has had the most impact from his playing days…from coaching at Simmons (he’s not there anymore, but brought the most amount of success the program ever experienced) to being the guy behind all of AAU New England…with AAU NE, Grandpre effects the club world immensely and by doing so thousands of volleyball athletes each year.
Frank Field - Following in the footsteps of Booh Brennan, Field has made a name for himself in the beach volleyball world. He’s also had some VLA reps as well. Not a bad ride thus far for the once slender middle from Coventry.
Kyle Eva - Eva was not recruited out of high school but anyone but me. He was football player hacking around for Chariho, but I saw monster written all over him. A monster he would become at JWU. He’d be an All-Conference selection numerous time and end up the all-time block leader in the program’s history!
Cam Roth - First, and foremost, Roth is the one of the few guys I think I may have gotten wrong leaving him off the top 50 high school players…however, where Roth truly belongs is here on the most influential. Cam would go to Rivier and have a brilliant career. He’d win championships and awards. I think he was a pin early on here, but then transitioned to Libero later on. As his career winded down in college, he’d step on to play for the VLA as well…again sometimes swinging on the left, but a lot of times playing the guy with the different jersey. He’s another ambassador of volleyball as he’s a wonderful guy who you’re just happen to run into and chat for a while.
Leo Rodrigues - I wish I had more time to write this article…there are so many good players with really cool stories. Leo is prime example. Rodrigues would play for Shea high school and be sort of lost to time as Shea was a D2 or D3 school at that point. Back in the day, if you were not a D1 school in RI, you got zero print and you could forget about all-state recognition. It’s not like today, where ResV covers all of it. Anyway, Leo did his tour at Shea and then graduated. From there, he started showing up at Yankee tournaments, Beach and Grass tournaments, wherever in RI…and became a dominating force. You had to know where Leo was at all times, or he was going to make you pay. Solid jump with a big arm, what I remember most about Leo was he could slice and dice with the best of them. Block is in the angle…not enough…Leo would slice it more angle. In prison which a huge block and trap set, Leo would escape…he’d cut it off the blocker close to the pin and out of bounds. He was really really good, and though few may have known about him when he attended Shea…everyone in the scene knew about him afterwards.
Brian Garrepy - Garrepy wouldn’t play after high school, but would go on to be one of the premier coaches in the region. Whether it being the skipper for North Kingstown girls volleyball program or the assistant at Johnson & Wales men’s volleyball team, Garrepy’s influence is decades long and still going to this day. He’s at the helm for NK girls still and is coming back to coach club this season for C-Mass.
Luis Vasguez - Luis would got to Rochester to play his college ball for the legendary coach, Cal Wickens at Nazareth. He’d have a solid career there, playing libero and setter for some teams that did damage in the DIII world. Naz would be a solid enough power Luis’ career and his level was top tier throughout it.
Jack Pincince - Someone told me he’s called Uncle Jack now, which is wild to me. He’ll tell you that he’s finally getting old. He’s been a volleyball stud on the left for decade now. Once JWU fell, he finished up a degree at URI and was their hammer for a couple of seasons. He’s now starting for Boston Bounce in the VLA and just won an award for his season. He’s been coaching at South County since 2021 and he’s probably joining my staff at Wheaton College. Big Jack has done a ton in the volleyball world in RI, both as a player and coach, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.
Keith Martinous - Talked about it a little prior, but Keith’s coaching career and post high school career need to be noted here. He’s won a state championship as a skipper for East Providence. He’s been an assistant at Bryant U. for over a decade. He played at Roger Williams and did work for a season. That’s a lot of influence and impact, not mention all the matches he played for Yankee.
Rick Rowey - The oldest and wisest of officials. Talk about a guy who has seen it all. Rowey has been officiating at a high level for decades. He hates when I write stuff like that because he thinks people will read and think he’s too old and has lost some of his fastball. Truth is, you can ask any coach today, whether it’s an important match, or a preseason match with zero value attached, who they’d want on the stand…they’d all say Rick Rowey. He is the benchmark of excellence for officials in this state and certainly in the conversation for region as well. He got into the profession because he was a player that received a lot of bad officials…so he decided he would be a good one because someone has to do it (a man after my own heart). Rowey has reffed more big matches then anyone else…but he’s probably reffed more matches just in general then anyone else. He’s another true Ambassador of the game and if you ever get the chance to hang out with him, do it. You’ll learn more about how the game works then you ever thought possible. He’s awesome in the truest sense of the word.
Mike Harrington - The old dog who has seen it all. At the beginning, there was Harri…and he’s still here today. He’s seen the best and the worst of the game. He’s won 8 state championships (Tied with Coventry for the most). He was the coach of at least 11 of the top 50 players to play the game…maybe more…certainly more if you count club volleyball during those days. Perhaps only Dan Greene may come close to that number? Joanna Fitts? He created South County Volleyball, which is currently the number one boys volleyball club organization in the state. There probably isn’t a guy who has had more impact on the sport in this littlest of states in the union then Harri.