EAST PROVIDENCE — The 2024 fall sports seasons for the respective East Providence High School squads began in earnest over the last few days, but especially so following the return to classes after the Labor Day holiday.

Girls' volleyball
The EPHS girls' volleyball team were actually the first of the fall sports teams to begin their 2024 season when the Townies swept visiting Classical, 3-0, in their Division I opener Friday night, Aug. 30.

The locals were winners by the scores of 25-17, 25-14 and 25-9. Keira Mullen paced the Townies with 10 kills and 6 service aces. Ellie Vest chipped in 4 kills and 7 aces.

East Providence followed up early last week with another sweep, this time a 3-0 victory over visiting South Kingstown in a D-I outing on Carvalho Court. The Townies took the match by the identical scores of 25-22, 25-22, 25-22. Mullen and Vets once again set the pace. The former had 8 kills, 10 assists from her setter spot, 6 digs and 2 aces. Vest had 5 kills, 10 digs and 3 aces.

Girls' tennis
The EPHS girls' tennis team opened up its 2024 regular season with a 5-2 victory over fellow Division II opponent North Smithfield on the road Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Abigail Ellison, new to the squad after playing the last two years for the EPHS boys, won her debut at No. 1 singles by the scores of 7-5 and 6-2. Hope Moran added the other solo victory, 4-and-4, at the third position.

The Townies swept doubles as the teams of Rylee Thurber-Isabella Periquito won in three sets at No. 1 (3-6, 5 and 1), Ava Domingues-Megan Pita also went three sets to win at No, 2 (4-6, 0 and 3) and Liana Soares-Sydney Olson were 4-and-2 winners at No. 3.

Cross Country
The EPHS boys' cross country team participated in its annual Injury Fund Carnival Saturday, Aug. 31, at Deerfield Park in Smithfield.

Will Anthony was the top Townie in the varsity 5-kilometer race with a time of 19 minutes, 19 seconds. Next in for the locals was Daniel Lukasa with a time of 20:44. Giuseppe Belanger clocked a 21:51, Jason Brown a 21:52, Deacon McShane a 21:54 and Roger Beaudet a 22:17. Sean Black was to finish for EPHS in the 4K freshmen race with a time of 15:28.

Boys' soccer
The EPHS boys' soccer club opened up its 2024 regular season with a 2-0 victory over neighboring Providence Country Day in the first of the Townies' two counting games outside of Division I this fall. Under the new Interscholastic League playoff qualification points system, East Providence earned 3.6 points with the victory over the D-III Knights.

The sides played a scoreless first half. EPHS captain Kendrick Costa got the scoring started in the second half with free kick assist to forward Sam Jackson, who notched the goal for a header. The second Townie goal came off a Rafael Ferreira cross to Nigel Fernandes. EP keeper Kyle Desrosiers had 5 saves. The Townies had 22 total shots on net and hit a pair of posts.

Upcoming schedules
Girls' Tennis: vs. Westerly, Thursday, Sept. 5, 5:30 p.m.; vs. St. Raphael, Monday, Sept. 9, 4 p.m.; at North Providence, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3:30 p.m.

Boys' Soccer: vs. Smithfield, Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.; vs. Tolman, Saturday, Sept. 7, noon; at Cumberland, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Football: vs. Barrington, Friday, Sept. 6, 6 p.m.

Girls' Soccer: at North Providence, Friday, Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m.; at PCD, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 3:30 p.m.

Cross Country: at Portsmouth, Monday, Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m.

Girls' Volleyball: at Portsmouth, Monday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.; at Barrington, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m.