The Mt. Hope girls volleyball season ended Thursday night after they lost a quarter-final match to North Smithfield, 3-1.

The Huskies took an early lead in the first game on the back of senior Brook McGreevy’s serves, winning six points in a row to take an early 8-3 lead. By the Lady Northmen battled back to take the first game 25-18.

Mt. Hope answered right back, taking the second game 25-19, and battling North Smithfield in a neck-and-neck third game. But the Lady Northmen took control late in the third game, winning a close one 25-22. Mt. Hope kept it close early in the fourth game, but ultimately couldn’t hang in as the Lady Northmen ran away with the deciding game, winning the fourth 25-15 to advance to the semi-finals.

“It’s always a struggle with our mental game,” coach Kat Boynton said after the game. “Sometimes, we get down on ourselves and we have a hard time fighting back, even though we have before. The pressure just got to us too much tonight.”

Seniors Alyssa McGreevy and Brook McGreevy led the Huskies attack with 12 assists and 8 kills, respectively. Sara Godfrey paced the defense, securing 9 blocks, and Gigi Greenslade was all over the court, tallying 5 digs, including multiple diving saves, despite playing on an injured foot that Ms. Boynton said may even be broken.

Despite the quarter-final loss, the coach was impressed with her team and the strides her players have made this year. After a tough 4-12 season last year, the Huskies mounted a complete turnaround, finishing 13-1, good for first place in Division II South. 

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“We fought hard and had a great season,” Ms. Boynton said. “They have all improved as players. I’m so proud of them.”