The Mt. Hope High School girls' volleyball team will enter the Division II playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league after the Huskies closed out their 2024 regular season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Middletown on Senior Night, October 23, at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.

The locals captured their 10th victory in a row by sending the Islanders back to Aquidneck Island with a 25-12, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 defeat.

The contest also allowed the Huskies to secure second place over Middletown in both the regular season standings and for the second seed in the D-II championship tournament, which starts with quarterfinal round matches between October 29-31. Mt. Hope will host the seventh seed, likely to be Cumberland.

In between, the locals will participate in a four-team non-league tourney hosted by Juanita Sanchez in Providence with Burrillville and North Smithfield Friday night, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m.

Only first-place and top-seeded Barrington is on a heater similar to Mt. Hope. The Eagles won their last 13 matches to finish with a 15-2 record in the regular season and to earn the No. 1 seed in the tourney bracket.

Middletown settled for third place and the third playoff seed by finishing with an 11-6 mark.

"They brought it tonight. They played aggressive, team volleyball. I’m very proud of this crew," MHHS head coach Lisa Lunney said of her Huskies after beating the Islanders. "We’re working on getting healthy. Just playing one game at a time."

Mt. Hope junior standout Sarah Wilcox closed the victory over the Islanders with a ripping jump serve on match point in set four.

Leah Marshall led the Huskies' offense with 10 kills. She also added two blocks and two service aces.

Gianna Lunney had 16 assists to go along with 11 digs and four aces. Mia Hanson led the locals with 17 digs while Daniella Desano chipped in 15 digs.