Week Nine - Updates…Why We Do What We Do…
11/4/25
It could be argued that playoffs is when the fun really starts for a season. The intensity and concentration get increased as the results are like The Highlander movie…there can be only one…that moves on. Understandably, this is what all teams are working toward and thus the importance rightfully highlighted at this time period.
The question I put to you today is…what about the teams that do not make it? What about the teams that lose in the early playoff rounds? Was their time wasted?
The answer is easily given…of course not. Every season, teams start anew with the hopes of making a playoff run. As the campaign unfolds, clarity gets revealed, and only certain clubs realistically have a shot for this type of experience. That does not mean that all the other teams are struggling in vain. To the contrary, each team is theoretically mapping their own course, hopefully with a good coach defining what success is. If your coach is not doing this, he or she is missing the point.
Let me paint an example. Let’s say a team is filled with players who’ve never played volleyball before. The coach’s job is to get them competitive enough to potentially win a game. If they win a couple, or even just one, the year is a success. This coach should not be wailing that they didn’t make the playoffs… Given the skill level and situation, winning one or two (or even just scaring a team) is a complete success and the team should be very satisfied with the results of their hard work, dedication, and the adventure they were on.
Let’s go even deeper... Why do we play sports at all? I’ve heard many theories…some focus on the value of having a target to hit, others tap on the idea that sports is a substitute for our previous war-like nature, and even some gravitate to the idea that it’s another social currency ladder that elevates when the top level has been achieved. Personally, I don’t prescribe to those ideas, though I would probably be in error if I didn’t consider that all were possible and perhaps the truest answer may be “all of the above” which also includes mine…
I believe sports are groups of people that share a liking for a desired game…no kidding ResV… Easy now, it’s just the beginning of my definition. These groups come together to share this love of the game, but also to help shape each other to their best version of themselves in the game…but also outside of it. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, these groups not only compete in the field of play, but also compete / support one another though the harshness and misery of life…
Now, dear reader, perhaps you read that last sentence and thought that my thoughts on life appear a little harsh itself… Life isn’t misery. You are correct, it’s not entirely misery. It’s not entirely happiness and joy either. Plus, no one needs help experiencing happiness and joy. Someone may even lead you to experiencing happiness and joy, but you don’t need help with it. On the other hand, harshness, sadness, and misery will come…it is inevitable.
I’m always surprised when someone says, “I just want to be happy.” or “If I’m not happy all the time, something is wrong.” Happiness is fleeting, just like sadness. You’re going to feel all kinds of emotions all of your life and none of them will be a steady line of existence. The roller-coaster of life is imagined that way for a reason…highs and lows, peaks and valleys, strikes and gutters. The adventure that is life will have it all and with varying degrees of intensity.
Life will be cruel at times and there will be misery…often times crushing doses of it. This is where your group comes in. You’ve earned their trust through a season of hard work. You’ve experienced the same ups and downs through a season (or many seasons). You’ve shared stories. Felt the pain and joy of play. Now, when things are truly hard…real life hard…your team should be there for you.
Just like everyone else, I’ve seen some hard times…some misery. When those moments occur, men and women on teams I’ve played with came out of the woodwork to comfort and give advice. The easiest story to tell is when JWU dissolved the men’s volleyball program. I was devastated. Not only did I see twelve years of hard work evaporate, but there was the fear and despair of “What do I do now?” I’m in my mid-forties and have no career! Of course my wife and family helped me through immensely. However, some of the turning points of recreating myself and getting out of the rut I was in came from people I’ve worked with throughout my life…basketball teammates from college, volleyball teammates from the Yankee days, former players who played for me at JWU, etc. I got a phone call from a guy who played for me at JWU…we hadn’t gotten along to well his career…and he pumped me up incredibly. When I thanked him for reaching out and checking in on me, he said, “Of course, that is what family does.”
This is why we play really. We create connections through the sport and through our hard work, through iron sharpening iron, through the adventures, the highs and lows, shared experiences and trials…we become family.
And when family is hurting, you show up. You always show up.
D1 Semifinals: (Seeds are Not ResV’s)
D1:
Semis…
#1 North Kingstown vs. #5 Classical - Nothing changes for me here. Classical dealt Coventry the crushing blow, but they will not see the same success this time around.
#2 East Providence vs. #3 La Salle Academy - This is now my pick for top match of the playoffs. La Salle rumors are all over the place that things might be a little different when these two play. East Providence has the horses to finish this one in three, but there is this feeling about this one…I’ll be broadcasting the match for NFHS, and I’ll let you know what I see.
D2 Semifinals: (Seeds are Not ResV’s)
D2:
Semis…
#1 Westerly hosting #4 Cumberland - The Clippers sail into the Bulldog’s lair hoping to cause the upset. I think they have as good a shot as anyone to rattle the cage, however, I just don’t think they have enough fire power to dislodge this big dawg. Westerly has lots of things going for them and probably have not come this far, and grown this much, to stop here. Cumberland will take a set…but that’s as far as it goes.
#2 Barrington hosting #3 Mt. Hope - Barrington served 24 aces in their win over North Smithfield. 24! That’s a ton of aces. Mt. Hope dropped a set to the game Bay View Bengals and did not serve 24 aces. I believe Barrington and Mt. Hope play the same style of volleyball, but Barrington is better at it. Eagles will serve the Huskies off the floor. Mt. Hope will get set three, but from there the Eagles will fly into the finals.
D3 Semifinals: (Seeds are Not ResV’s)
D3:
Semis…
#1 Ponaganset hosting #4 Johnston - Johnston handled Juanita Sanchez pretty easily, and not the five-set thriller I predicted…even the big fella can be wrong. Actually, I’m wrong quite a bit, but I do have the courage to throw it out there and face the music when the ball doesn’t bounce my way. Now, I still have the Chieftains handling their business here. They are at home and Johnston couldn’t dislodge them in the regular season…though they did take a set off of them…one of the few to do so. Hence, I’m expecting a solid game but another four set victory for the seasonal champs…and I will take the next lashing if Johnston upsets them…which absolutely could happen.
#2 Tiverton hosting #3 Scituate - I had Scituate winning this one, and I’m not going to change my prediction. Do I have any solid data to back this prediction up? No. Do I have any inside information on this? No. All I have is the good old fashion “gut” feeling… On paper, Tiverton has this one in four, but I just keep thinking Scituate is going to upend this in five. Am I wrong? Probably… Sometimes, however, my gut does get it right and this just feels like one of those times. As with all predictions, we’ll see soon enough, and I easily could be eating crow.
D4 Semifinals: (Seeds are Not ResV’s)
D4:
Semis…
#1 Toll Gate hosting #4 Central - I don’t think the Titans get challenged to hard here. Granted Central was one of the few teams in D4 that scared Toll Gate this season…I just don’t think the environment is going to be conducive for an upset. If this was at a neutral venue, I’d probably say coin flip. This is not the case however, and Toll Gate is a rocking gym. TG will figure it out and maybe give up one set…just one though.
#2 Woonsocket hosting #3 Hope - RPI gets another one wrong. Hope beat Woonsocket twice and still get the third seed. I’m sure Hope would much rather play this one at their barn as opposed to being on the road. To me, this is a quick fix. Set the RPI to double points for beating a conference opponent. It would make conference matches more important, which they should be, and eliminated this crazy situation. This has happened two seasons in a row now, with Portsmouth and Mt. Hope in the boys season last year finding the ranking flipped as well.
I still have Hope coming out on top here. I think it’s a five-set thriller and Hope gets the nod.
Final Predictions (From Week Eight ResV Article)…
D1
#1 North Kingstown vs. #2 East Providence at Rhode Island College - Once again, numbers one and two seeded will face off in the final. East Providence does have the lone victory over North Kingstown…however, that was at home. North drubbed EP in the return game at the Forge, so it almost feels like they cancel each other out. Garrepy and Mullen are the top two players in the state and both should put up fireworks. There are other matchups worth watching. Evora vs. Scott. Arnold vs. Bernhardt. At the end of the day, whomever executes their gameplan, serves tougher, and get the most quality swings will end up with the crown. Skippers in four.
D2
#1 Westerly vs. #2 Barrington at Rhode Island College - The lights are brightest in this match and the only real question I have, is can Westerly adjust to just that. The undefeated regular season is nice and fans love it, but this season hasn’t been a situation of just clean sweep after clean sweep. No, this Westerly side had to grow into this…from shaky starts at the beginning, to dominating performances late. Every player has gotten better from the beginning and now confidence is sky high. In their way is Barrington…the defending champs. They’re a lot different from last year’s team, but many of this year’s team were along for last year’s ride. They serve tough, defend well, and have pieces to score. In two words…they’re dangerous. To me, it comes down to whether the lights are too bright or not for the Bulldogs on a weekend, on a college campus, in the early part of November. If not, they win. Bulldogs in five.
D3
#1 Ponaganset vs. #3 Scituate at Rhode Island College - The Chieftans have the best setter in the league in Shaw. They also have arguably the best pin in the league in Glover. Their middles are solid enough and their ball control does the job. Scituate will have had to work hard this playoff, dispatching Tiverton and Narragansett. That’s about all the tea leaves I need to call this one. Glover will have a big night and Scituate will fall in three.
D4
#1 Toll Gate vs. #3 Hope at Rhode Island College - The Titans were dominate this year and I don’t think there is a magical moment for Hope on this one. Toll Gate handled Hope twice in straight sets and Hope will have spent all of their emotional and physical capital to get past Woonsocket. Toll Gate will run away with this after taking one last gasp from Hope…Titans in four.
ResV Top 15…
North Kingstown (16 - 1)
East Providence (15 - 2)
Westerly (18 - 0)
La Salle Academy (13 - 4)
Barrington (15 - 3)
Mt. Hope (17 -1)
+3 Classcial (12 - 7)
+1 Cumberland (14 - 6)
—1 Coventry (9 - 7)
+3 Ponaganset (18 - 0)
—2 Lincoln (12 - 5)
Portsmouth (8 - 9)
+1 Tiverton (15 - 3)
—1 Bay View (11 - 9)
(New) Toll Gate (19 - 0)
Receiving Votes… East Greenwich, Scituate, Woonsocket, Hope, South Kingstown, Johnston, West Warwick, Chariho
Controversy Corner!
See the Woonsocket / Hope write up!
ResV Coaching Tip of the Week:
It’s the semi-finals! The best tip I can give for coaching in playoff matches is use your time-outs judiciously. Do not let the gap, if you can help it, go past five points because five is generally the “within reach” deficit. If things are getting out of control, use a time out and get your team locked in on one particular item, not twenty different items as you don’t want to overwhelm. Watch the gap, plan accordingly, and give your team one item to focus on that could swing the tide.
ResV Player Tip of the Week:
Stay hydrated and support your teammates. Drinking water is easy. Supporting your teammates is hard, especially when things are falling apart. Consider this, however, your struggling teammate will have a zero percent chance of bouncing back if they feel anger and frustration from you and others…they may have a small chance of bouncing back through positivity, but small is better then zero. Thus, stay positive, regardless of what your emotions try to demand from you, and avoid the zero.
The Fifth Annual ResV Systems All-Star Match is on June 13th, 2026…presumably at East Greenwich High School! 9:30am start for the Girls Match, 1:30pm start for the Boys Match. Over 50 student athletes participating! Long live the Super Point! Fan games between sets three and four (Bounce Contest, Ace VLA Boston Bounce Super Star Jack Pincince, and more)! Portion of the Proceeds go to the Tomorrow Fund! See you all there!
Bring your whole team!
NOTE- Thank you to everyone sending me information! This year it’s harder then ever to find stats from matches and obtain relative information. I may not respond to your email, but I am grateful for the data.
To send updates, stories, and players college decisions…or inquire about coffee beans that Coach roasts himself, to Coach Reslow - Scott.Reslow@protonmail.com
Coaches! Please feel free to reach out if interested in scheduling some time to talk shop! I’d love to help your program out!
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