It was a busy afternoon for the Mt. Hope High School athletic program as the Huskies held their annual "tailgate" fundraising event on the grounds of Roger Williams University Friday, Aug. 28.

There, MHHS played matches in four different sports, including boys' soccer, which concluded a hectic stretch of three preseason outings in four days with its Injury Fund game against Middletown.

The Division II Huskies had little trouble with the D-III Islanders, dispatching their guests by a 4-0 count. Tom Levis scored twice while Cyrus Belisle-Braun and Cole Tavares had one goal apiece. Tavares, the usual MHHS starting keeper, was playing in the outfield due an arm ailment. Andrew Vieira minded the net in his stead, posting the clean-sheet.

Mt. Hope previously played a couple of road scrimmages against nearby Massachusetts sides, Oliver Ames in Easton and Case in neighboring Swansea.

Girls' soccer
The MHHS girls' soccer team began its 2026 regular season Friday, Aug. 29, with a 5-2 loss to Portsmouth. The visiting Patriots made good use of some defensive mistakes by the Huskies to build a 3-0 at halftime.

Mt. Hope scored both of its goals in the second, the first by senior defender Elise Lanoie and the second by striker classmate Sara Nencka. Lanoie assisted on the latter. Goalie Moira Ware made seven saves on 12 Portsmouth shots.

Girls' tennis
The MHHS girls' tennis team made its return to the Division II ranks, beginning its 2026 season with a 6-1 setback also to Portsmouth.

The No. 2 doubles team of Kayla Sousa and Marissa Cabral picked up the lone point for the locals with their love-and-love win.

The Huskies, who spent the last several falls in D-I, were rather competitive in four of their losses.

Hazel Bradley fell 6-2 and 7-5 at first singles. Emma Sorrentino dropped a 4-and-4 decision at two. Avery Walsh recovered from a slow start to lose 6-1 and 7-5 at three. And Ava Cabral fell 2-and-3 at four.

Girls' volleyball
The MHHS girls' volleyball squad made the opposite move in the offseason, switching from D-II to the top ranks.

The Huskies fell in their 2026 Division I opener, 3-1, once more to an opponent from Portsmouth.

The Patriots took the first set, 25-6. Mt. Hope answered with a 25-20 win in set two before Portsmouth closed out the match with 25-22 and 25-12 wins.

Margaret Thorp led the locals with seven kills, 12 digs and four service aces. Lillian Konz added five kills and two blocks. Hayden Sylvia set for 15 assists, had a team-best 14 digs and added a pair of aces.

Upcoming schedules
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Girls' tennis: at Rogers, Aquidneck Park courts, 4 p.m.
Boys' soccer: at Pilgrim, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 3
Girls' volleyball: at Cumberland, 6:30 p.m.
Football: vs. Moses Brown/Excel Co-op at Barrington High School, 5:30 p.m.
Girls' soccer: at East Providence, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 4
Boys' soccer: vs. Narragansett, Roger Williams University, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 5
Boys' and girls' cross country, Injury Fund at Deerfield Park, Smithfield, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 8
Boys' soccer: at West Warwick, 4 p.m.
Girls' soccer: vs. Narragansett, Roger Williams University, 4:30 p.m.
Girls' tennis: at Cumberland, 4:30 p.m.
Girls' volleyball: vs. East Providence, 6 p.m.