Portsmouth unified volleyball team wins D-2 state championship

Posted 11/2/15

PORTSMOUTH — For five seniors on the Portsmouth High School unified basketball, it was a satisfying bookend win at Johnson and

Wales University’s Wildcat Center Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots won their second state …

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Portsmouth unified volleyball team wins D-2 state championship

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — For five seniors on the Portsmouth High School unified basketball, it was a satisfying bookend win at Johnson and

Wales University’s Wildcat Center Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots won their second state title in four years when they defeated Cranston West — 25-17 in the first game, 25-22 in the second.

“We’re losing five seniors,” said coach Donna Ricci after the Division II championship win. “The seniors have been with us all four years. They got a championship their freshmen year and

they wanted to get another one before they graduated.”

In unified sports, students with and without intellectual disabilities play together on the same team. The players with intellectual disabilities are the athletes, while other members are their partners, or helpers/coaches.

The varsity sports program falls under the purview of the R.I. Interscholastic League (RIIL) in partnership with R.I. Special Olympics.

After the Patriots won the first game rather handily, Cranston West came out strong to start the second, jumping out to an early lead thanks to some strong serving.

Portsmouth answered right back with its own solid serving game, however. Sophomore Kyle Boudreau’s patented punch serve proved to be effective, helping the Patriots get back into the match. Boudreau also made a few key plays near the end of the second game.

Freshman Jack Ross’ sneaky underhand serve also contributed in the comeback, at one point netting Portsmouth two straight points against the Falcons.

Fans came out in full force to cheer both sides on. The Patriots Andrew Borquin, a senior, received one of the biggest ovations when one of his returns was subsequently sent into the net by a

Falcon for a Portsmouth point.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Ms. Ricci after the game.“Our team did excellent all season. They worked really hard at playing together as a team, working on two and three hits every time to get the ball over.

“They played absolutely fabulous today.”

Here are the champions

Here are the players on the 2015 Portsmouth High School unified volleyball team, your Division II state champions:

Athletes: Drew Breede, senior captain; Noah Perry, senior; Jack Ross, freshman; Kyle Boudreau, sophomore; and Andrew Borquin, senior.

Partners/helpers: Victoria Wolfe, sophomore; Shelby Borquin, freshman; Sami Jefferds, freshman; Nick Colicci, junior; Tyler Pimentel, sophomore; Ella Blackburn, sophomore; and Brittany Brant and Liam Craft, both senior captains.

To view a photo gallery by Rich Dionne, click the link below.

Portsmouth Unified Volleyball Champs

PHS unified volleyball, Portsmouth High School, unified sports

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.