Beavers fast start follows a state vocational title last fall

Blackstone Valley Tech girls’ volleyball head coach Jacob Ramos feels like his team picked up right where it left off last season, and he could not be happier about it.

“We graduated some seniors, and we were wondering how we were going to start the season,” Ramos said. “To have played as confidently as we have played has definitely been better than we expected. We have been blessed to pick things up rather quickly.”

BVT rattled off wins in seven of its first eight matches through September. Ramos said his team has been able to make adjustments quickly, and a mix of veterans and newer players has gelled.

One of those experienced players, senior captain Franceska Malo, at the start of the year picked up her 1,000th career assist as the team’s setter.

“She has been a rock star for us,” Ramos said. “Setting, serving, playing defense, she has been a staple over the last four years.”

Ramos also had high praise for the play of his middle hitters, fellow captains Delaney Dubois and Makenzie Johnson. Both of them are playing “phenomenal” volleyball, the coach said.

“They are playing some of the best I have seen out of middle hitters,” he said. “They are versatile players; you can move them up and down the line along the net, and they are going to make plays.”

Anchoring the defense is senior libero Manuella Bernardes, another four-year player for the Beavers. Ramos said Bernardes’ serve-receive has been a huge strength.

Younger players have also stepped into significant roles. Sophomore Abigail Kilbourn is standing out on the right side and exceeding expectations, Ramos said. Junior Anna Charron took over the outsider hitter spot at the start of the season, and has been able to take on any challenge thrown at her by the coaching staff.

The fast start has Ramos and the rest of the team setting lofty goals for the remainder of the year. The Beavers figure to be in a fight with Nipmuc for the top spot in the league. Valley Tech is also hoping to repeat as state vocational champion and position itself well for the state tournament. 

“Making another deep run in the playoffs is the standard we have set for ourselves,” Ramos said. “We made the Sweet 16 last year, and we’d love to make another appearance.”