North Kingstown Star Named Gatorade RI Volleyball Player Of Year

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — An undefeated season and second straight state title was capped with a tremendous honor for Keri Spitler when the North Kingstown High School senior was named the 2019-20 Gatorade Rhode Island Volleyball Player of the Year. The award recognized outstanding athletic excellent as well as high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.

Spitler becomes the fifth North Kingstown volleyball player to win the state award. She is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year Award to be announced later this month.

The transfer from the Houston area, who volunteered extensively in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, racked up 283 kills, 129 digs, 74 aces, 67 blocks and 41 assists, to go with a .596 kill percentage and .398 hitting percentage. She was named First Team All-State and MVP of the RI state tournament. She also maintained a 4.53 grade-point average.

"Keri was the most effective hitter in the state this season," said Mike Harrington, the head boys coach at Bishop Hendricken High School. "She also has good back-row skills along with a very effective and consistent jump serve that scored points for her team."

Spitler joins recent Gatorade Rhode Island Volleyball Players of the Year: Maile Somera (Barrington High School), Jenna Bridges, JenDonnelly (Exeter-West Greenwich High School) and Samantha Higgins (Coventry High School) among the state's list of former award winners.

As a part of Gatorade's cause marketing platform "Play it Forward," Spitler has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national youth sports organization of her choosing. She is also eligible to submit an essay to win one of 12 $10,000 spotlight grants for the organization of choice, which will be announced throughout the year.