High school preseason power rankings can always make you look silly.
But they’re fun to compile and it’s always interesting to compare the first iteration to the last. What changes will come to The Providence Journal boys volleyball rankings? Who will make an unexpected run midway through the year?
Those alterations and trends will be decided over the following months as teams eye the early June championships. As a recap, La Salle is the defending Division I champs; Barrington and Pawtucket follow in D-II and D-III.
But after the Rhode Island Interscholastic League realignments, only the Rams can defend their title. Barrington was bumped up to D-I and Pawtucket to D-II. Realignment, for the betterment of the state, has changed a lot this spring.
The top three teams from D-II last year were promoted and five D-III programs moved up to D-II. That’s a major positive for those teams. Teams should strive to climb the state’s ladder. Readjustments can always be made, but programs shouldn’t stay stagnant within the divisions.
This season, D-III essentially follows a model set by other sports. The teams left in that group are relatively new and the athletes are still figuring it out. Take Pawtucket for example: the Tolman/Shea co-op started in 2021 and finished the season with at 3-8 record. The following year it went 2-16. But by the third spring, Pawtucket was playing for a title. In its fourth year, the co-op went 16-1 and won the championship.
That’s the blueprint these remaining teams should follow. It’s a developmental league, and for that reason, we won’t rank them. The wins and losses matter less — it’s just about building a sustainable program.
Now let’s get into the rankings.
Division I rankings
1. La Salle
The defending champions earned the right to start the season at No. 1. But La Salle must replace Ephraim Abhulime’s production. The 6-foot-7 ProJo Player of the Year is at Merrimack College now. Someone will have to step up to lead the Rams.
2. North Kingstown
North Kingstown, at the very least, should be in the semifinals. But the Skippers want more than just a Final Four appearance. It’s championship or bust for a talented senior class. Will the ...
