EAST PROVIDENCE — By any historic measure, the East Providence High School girls' volleyball program is back where it belongs as it begins the 2024 season this week.

The Townies are coming off a rousing run to the 2023 Division II championship, finishing last fall undefeated in 19 matches total including a 3-0 sweep of Cumberland in the title tilt.

In 2024 and after a two-year hiatus, East Providence returns to the state's top tier, Division I, where the Townies were among the dominant teams for the better part of a quarter century. EP won seven state titles and made 12 championship match appearances between 1990 and 2012.

In the mid-2010s, though, the program suffered a dip, leading EPHS head coach Alex Butler, now in his 24th season on the girls' volleyball staff, to eventually opt out of D-I in the fall of 2022.

He and the Townies quickly regained their footing in D-II, reaching and losing the '22 league final to Chariho before beating Cumberland last fall.

"I'm excited to be back in Division I," said Butler, who is once again assisted by former Townie All-Stater Kaitlyn Bellamy. "I'm looking forward to rekindling some of those old rivalries, getting reacquainted with some of the coaches I've had long relationships with and making some of those trips to places where we had some great games. I'm also looking forward to getting back to competitive matches every night."

East Providence reengages with the best squads in the state minus six contributors who graduated this past June, including starting libero/defensive specialist Daniella Escudero and one of its setters in its 6-2 formation Nora Fineran.

"I don't really know what we are as a team yet. I can't answer that question," Butler explained. "But I do know we return a few key pieces and kids who played a good amount of volleyball last year."

One of those kids is all-everything performer Keira Mullen. The 5-foot-7 junior is one of the best players in players in Rhode Island if not the area, who can play just about every position on the floor. For the Townies this fall she'll once again set and hit from the right side.

"Anyone who walks into a gym and doesn't say she's one of the better players on the floor or the best doesn't know volleyball," Butler said of Mullen.

He continued, "There's people out there who do rankings for these kids. I don't know anything about that. But what I do know is that Keira can do just about anything I ask of her, and this year that includes having more of a leadership role.

"My expectation of her is to continue to play at a high level, excel as a leader, help her teammates raise the level of their games. She knows that's what I expect of her and she's accepted it."

Junior Audrey Lepine gets first chance to replace Fineran in the other setter position. Lepine played the role on junior varsity last fall. Butler pointed out she already has more experience in the spot than her predecessor, who had neither actual varsity nor JV game time prior to a year ago.

"It's going to be an adjustment for Audrey," said Butler. "The speed, the expectations, the stresses of the game are much different on varsity. She's working through it right now. She looks good, but the bright lights haven't turned on yet."

Classmate Jathai Sanchez also gets the chance to fill the libero/defensive role in the stead of Escudero. She, likewise, has experience playing the position at the club level and, according to Butler, is "working hard" learning what is expected of her with the Townies.

In addition, sophomore Kaia Greene should see time in the libero spot with senior returnee Azia Melse getting the opportunity to act as a back row defensive specialist as well.

Joining Mullen as returning starters and quite capable performers are senior middle hitter Trinity Johnson Carter and junior outside hitter Eliza Vest. Unknown commodities at this time a year ago, both started every match and played integral roles in EP's journey to the D-II title.

"Elly is still young in the game. She's only been playing three years. But she's focused. She wants to get better. And Trinity did a really good job for us at middle hitter all year. They're two of the other kids we're really going to lean on a lot this year," Butler said of Johnson Carter and Vest.

Three sophomores are vying for time at the opposite side hitter spot: Vivian Bernhardt, Layla Bates and Abigail Raphael. Butler said he expects to have some "roller coaster moments" at that position during the season as each of the varsity newcomers figures things out.

Joining Johnson Carter in the middle is junior Aliyah Evora, whom Butler noted for her play early last fall on JV before joining the Townies on varsity late and aiding in their title chase. Sophomore Audrey Bernard will also see time in the middle.

Two juniors are expected to earn looks on the right side during the rotation: Siena Rietheimer and Trinity Provencher. Rietheimer moves up from JV, while the role for the returning Provencher should increase.

"We have some new people in different spots with little to no experience. Right now we're just working to put things together," Butler said.

He continued, "That's what practice is for. There's competition every day. I told them there's no set lineup. What they do everyday is what I use as a gauge to determine who gets on the court. Player 1-14, that's the expectation."

As he reiterates to his team at this time each year, the goal of every EPHS girls' volleyball team is to compete for a championship regardless of composition or division

"We always want to be playing on the last Saturday of the season," Butler said, referring to the annual early November date for the league title matches. "That expectation never changes."

Even with the return to D-I, where the coach said the "matches will be competitive. We're going to face more adversity, but that's what any athlete should want."

The 2024 Townies, Butler observed, "have no stalking size." EP's tallest players range from 5'8" to 5'10," but they have "kids who can move and jump, can play above the net. Everyone is long and lanky. We should have an explosive attack as long as our passing is solid. And we should be able to defend down the middle."

Of his team returning to the postseason in the state's top tier, again a place they inhabited annually in days gone by, Butler said he has "no doubt we'll be in the playoffs."

He added, "We know the teams in (division) one have strong players, but we have strong players, too. You still have to play games. We respect every one, but fear no one. It's all well and good to be back in Division I, but we want to win back in Division I."

The Townies get their 2024 league slate going Friday night, Aug. 30, at 6:30 when they host Classical. EP welcomes South Kingstown to the city for its only outing next week Tuesday, Sept. 3, against South Kingstown also at 6:30 p.m.