This is a tremendous honor that Keira has earned. She is such a hard worker and is driven to be successful. This is the first time a Townie has won this award since Jessica Morse in 2004-2005. It has been my pleasure to coach her for the past three years and I am looking forward to next season.”

Alex Butler, East Providence Athletic Director and volleyball coach

Outside hitter and setter Keira Mullen was announced the Gatorade 2024-25 Rhode Island volleyball Division 1 Player of the Year on Thursday, Jan. 9, as voted by the RI coaches association.

“This is a tremendous honor that Keira has earned,” said Townies volleyball coach Alex Butler, also the school’s athletic director. “She is such a hard worker and is driven to be successful. This is the first time a Townie has won this award since Jessica Morse in 2004-2005. It has been my pleasure to coach her for the past three years and I am looking forward to next season.”

The honor is Mullen’s second in as many years. She earned Division 2 Player of the Year honors in 2023-4, before East Providence moved up a division.

The 5 foot, 9 inch junior compiled impressive stats this season— 241 assists, 203 kills, 182 digs, 61 aces and 41 blocks—while helping East Providence to a 14-5 record and a D-1 semifinals birth.

“She was one of the most dynamic players in the league,” said Coventry head coach Jonathan Bartlett. “She’s explosive in terms of her hitting and she’s a consistent server and solid setter.”

Mullen sets the example on the court with her play and off the court by currently maintaining a 3.90 GPA in the classroom. She is the third player from East Providence high school to be chosen for the honor, which celebrates the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the court, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Mullen, a two-time first team All-State selection, as Rhode Island’s best high school volleyball player, according to a press release from Gatorade POY.

She joins recent Gatorade RI POY’s, Ella Maack (2023-24, North Kingstown High School), Morgan Casey (2022-23, Portsmouth High School), Abby Ryno (2021-22, North Kingstown High School) and Lauren Milani (2020-21, Cranston East High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student - athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade, Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY and X(Twitter) at x.com/Gatorade.