Top returning girls volleyball players? Here are 10 to watch this fall

The Rhode Island high school girls volleyball season is nearly upon us.

Teams have worked their serve/receives all summer and it will all be on display as games start in earnest on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The sport was reduced to three divisions this season with movement across the board.

We know that there will be at least two new champions this fall after East Providence was bumped up to Division I. The Townies raced to an undefeated season last fall and captured the D-II title. And in D-III, Burrillville edged Tolman in five sets, but the Broncos are off to the state’s second league.

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North Kingstown seeks its third straight title in D-I, but there are competitors lurking at everywhere and the Providence Journal is excited to get to the action.

For now, here are 10 girls volleyball players to keep an eye on this fall.

Lyla Auth, Middle blocker

Westerly, Junior

Auth certainly has the size at 6-foot-1 to warrant attention. But it’s the combination of size and hit power in the middle that stands out for the Bulldog. Westerly went 10-5 last season and should duplicate that success again this season.

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Sofia D’Agostino, Libero

La Salle, Junior

D’Agostino led the Rams to a 10-6 mark last year and a spot in the Final Four. La Salle was ultimately upended by North Kingstown in straight sets, but the specialist garnered recognition for her play by making the Providence Journal All-State second team.

Kayleigh Garrepy, Middle blocker

North Kingstown, Sophomore

Garrepy, daughter of Skippers’ coach Brian Garrepy, landed on the All-State second team as a freshman and enters the 2024 campaign as one of the top players in the state. North Kingstown won its second of back-to-back championships last fall and should threaten to make it a dynasty.

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Sydney Henson, Setter

North Kingstown, Senior

Part of the reason North Kingstown enters as a way-too-early favorite is Henson. The senior is tabbed to replace the 2023 Gatorade player of the year, Ella Maack, at setter for the Skippers. Henson was already an all-stater at libero last year (181 digs to go with 54 assists) but transitions to lead NK’s potent offense.

Hailey Labonte, Outside hitter

Portsmouth, Senior

Labonte led the Patriots in kills and digs and was just behind Caitlin Mediate in aces last fall. Behind the two seniors, Portsmouth could reach the D-I playoffs for the third straight season.

Tessa LaFrenier, Outside hitter

North Kingstown, Senior

LaFrenier is one of the top hitters in the state and will demand attention at the net. North Kingstown has a long lineage of stars and the senior could be next up on that list.

Emma McCrann, Outside hitter

Barrington, Junior

Morgan Martin, Libero

Barrington, Senior

Barrington was close to pulling off the semifinal upset against East Providence last year. The Eagles dropped the fifth set, 16-14, but almost every team goes through heartbreak before winning. Need proof? The Barrington boys lost in similar fashion in 2023 before winning the title last spring. McCrann, now a junior, earned D-II second-team honors from the league’s coaches last year. Martin, now a senior, joined her on that team.

Caitlin Mediate, Setter

Portsmouth, Senior

The Patriots earned the four seed in D-I last fall and took No. 5 La Salle to five sets before falling, 15-13, in the final set. If not for NK’s Ella Maack, Mediate would have been the ProJo’s first-team All-State setter. But she’s back for another season with the Patriots and is one to watch this fall.

Keira Mullen, Rightside hitter

East Providence, Junior

Mullen is the only All-State hitter returning after graduation losses last year. The Townies dropped to D-II last season and went undefeated, winning the title in straight sets. They’re in D-I this season with the junior leading the way.

India Vaughn-Hallene, Middle hitter

South Kingstown, Senior

The Rebels halted North Kingstown’s reign in the fall of 2021 with a 25-17, 14-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-9 win in the semifinals. They then topped Prout for the program’s first state championship. SK reached the finals again the following year, but was undone by the Skippers. A potential return to the pinnacle would be aided by Vaughn-Hallene at the net.

jrousseau@providencejournal.com

On X: @ByJacobRousseau