Women's Volleyball Preview

Last fall, the Rhode Island College women's volleyball team experienced a much-needed resurgence after a dismal 8-23 season the year before.

The man who guided the Anchorwomen to an 18-19 record and a 3-4 (fifth place) mark in the Little East Conference last season was head coach Luis Carvalho. Carvalho was named Little East Conference Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year for his efforts last season and has compiled a career record of 41-59. He will be back for his fourth season leading the Anchorwomen this fall.

The Anchorwomen are returning just six players from last year's squad, five of them sophomores. The only senior and the player to watch this fall is captain Tess Heidel.  

The key losses for the Anchorwomen from last year's squad are seniors Sharon Corriveau and Kristen Johnson. Corriveau closed out her four-year career as an Anchorwoman having played in 471 games in 133 matches. She ranks fifth all-time in RIC history in kills. Johnson finished 10^th all-time in the Anchorwomen record books in blocks, and played in 270 games in 105 career matches.

The Anchorwomen will look to build on the success they had last fall when they defeated Keene State in the opening round of the Little East Conference tournament last fall, but failed to advance further after being knocked out by UMass Boston in the next round.

Players to Watch

Senior Captain Tess Heidel

            Heidel finished last season playing in 113 games in 37 matches. She totaled 175 kills, a .137 hitting percentage, 56 service aces, 142 digs and 93 blocks. Heidel ranked first on the team in service aces, second in blocks and fifth in both kills and digs.

Heidel had a distinguished high school career at Pilgrim High School before graduating in 2007. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Providence Journal in addition to being named All-Division and team MVP. Heidel has been a major performer for the Anchorwomen since her freshmen year in which she was named Little East Conference Rookie of the Week once.

Sophomore Breanna Boyer

            Boyer has quickly become a rising star on the women's volleyball team. As a freshman last fall she was named team MVP. She was a Second Team All-Little East selection, playing in 129 games in 37 matches, totaling 388 kills (3.0/game), a .243 hitting percentage, 19 service aces (.15/game), 304 digs (2.36/game) and 54 blocks (.42/game). Boyer ranked first on the team in kills, second in both hitting percentage and digs, fourth in service aces and was fifth in blocks. She was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week once and to the Regis College and Wheaton Invitational All-Tournament Teams. Boyer earned All-State and All-Division honors at La Salle Academy where she graduated in 2009.

Can't Miss Game

Saturday, Sept. 25^th

RIC vs. UMass Boston

Last year's results

Lost 3-0, lost 3-0

The Anchorwomen were knocked out of the Little East Tournament's semifinal round by the Beacons last season. Look for RIC to come out strong against their conference rival in this matchup on the road.

The Lineup

Outside Hitter #1 Amanda Cabral

Middle Blocker #2 Kalyn Archer

Setter #11 Jamey McIntyre

Outside Hitter #12 Breanna Boyer

Opposite #14 Valerine Biasochea

Middle Blocker #18 Tess Heidel

Setter #6 Jessica Ho

Libero #15 Harley Mitchell