The program now back on firm footing after a couple of lean years in the state's top tier, the East Providence High School boys' volleyball team enters the 2024 season seeking to improve upon a quarterfinal appearance in last spring's Division II championship tournament.

The Townies finished 2023, their third in the second rung of the sport, with an 8-8 record and the aforementioned appearance in the D-II playoffs where they suffered a 3-1 loss to eventual champ Lincoln High. The Lions, who went just 9-7 during the regular season, vaulted from the No. 4 seed into league winners after their wins over EPHS, top-seeded and once-beaten Barrington in the semis (3-2) and second-seeded, 14-2 Cranston West in the final (3-1).

East Providence graduated nine seniors off the 2022 club that when 15-3 in the regular season to place second before being upended by third-seeded Westerly, 3-2, in the league playoff semifinals that spring.

Senior, three-year starter and full-on volleyballer DJ Lepine leads the 2024 Townies. Lepine, who plays the sport year-round at the club level, is an opposite side hitter.

Defensive specialists Trent DeCosta and Nicholas Capobianco, setter Loden Broe, setter Jason Leite, middle hitters Pedro Medeiros, Trey DeCosta and Joshua Jean-Louis and right side hitter Andrew Espada are the other seniors on the roster and among the returning contributors.

The 2024 varsity roster is rounded out by juniors Jordan Rodriguez, Brandon Mimande, Naya Phillip, Franklin Carela Lopez, Logan Calouro and Antonio Varela along with freshman Ethan Pereira.

The Townies begin the spring employing a 5-1 formation with a single setter in Broe. The rest of the rotation comes from a pool group including Lepine and Rodriguez on the opposite side, Phillip and Mimande on the right and Calouro as libero. Either Carela Lopez, Medeiros or Varela man the middle.

"The team has been working hard in the off season and looks to carry that work into the season. They're coming together and very fun to be around," said EPHS head coach Dan Cabral, who credited his senior class with "leading the team each day in practice."

He continued, "The competition is high in practice, and the energy is good."

The Townies won their preseason scrimmage Thursday, March 28, against the Pawtucket (Tolman/Shea) co-op 3-2 by the scores 25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 26-28 and 16-14. Lepine led the way with 10 kills and 10 digs. Phillip added seven kills and three blocks.

East Providence got its 2024 league schedule going in fine form, sweeping Westerly on the road Tuesday night, April 2. The Townies won by the scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-22. Rodriguez paced the locals with 12 kills and 10 digs.

EPHS hosts its first home match of the season when Woonsocket visits Carvalho Court Thursday night, April 4, for a 7 o'clock start.