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Curry’s Villanueva develops new appreciation for football: ‘I missed it more than anything.’

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Nick Villanueva. / Courtesy photo: SportsPix

Nick Villanueva is an “all-around” leader for the Colonels.

As he sat in his dorm room at the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 2015, Nick Villanueva couldn’t help but think about one thing — football.

For the first time since third grade, there were no shoulder pads to put on, cleats to tie or playbook to study. He was out of the game. 

“I missed it more than anything,” Villanueva, a Hanson resident said. “At that time, all I could really do was follow the Patriots. I was watching football every day.”

Villanueva opted to attend URI in order to pursue a degree in engineering despite being recruited by colleges to play football, after hauling in 31 passes for 538 yards and two touchdowns in his senior season at Whitman-Hanson Regional High in 2014. He quickly realized URI wasn’t the place for him.

“I started missing the game and everybody because I saw the football team there playing and everyone preparing for the season,” Villanueva said. “It was the first time I hadn’t had to go through camp and everything.”

It wasn’t completely lost time for Villanueva, though. He pushed himself to the limit in the weight room, with a mission of getting back into the game the following year. After transferring to Curry College, he was one step closer.

“I had a coach who coached at W-H and coached at Curry, coach [Steve] Scott, and he told me a lot about Curry and the program and I should give it a shot,” Villanueva said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve been waiting,’ and I kind of made my decision really quick.”

His next step was to pick up the phone and call Curry head coach Skip Bandini.

“I told him who I was and that I was interested in playing football,” Villanueva said. “I had to almost ask to play.”

Bandini let Villanueva come to camp. He caught the coach’s attention right away.

“I saw a kid that was very well mannered,” Bandini said. “He’s very articulate. Coach Scott said that this is a kid that we want on our team and coach Scott was right.”

Since making the team, Villanueva has blossomed into Curry’s go-to offensive weapon at wide receiver, earning Second-Team All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Football Offensive selection in 2017 and Second-Team All-CCC honors last season. But his biggest achievement came heading into this season: being voted as team captain.

“It’s a great honor,” Villanueva said. “To have my teammates think of me as a leader for them makes me feel incredible. I just want to be a member of the team and not only lead by example but make sure everyone’s on the same page.”

Bandini called Villanueva an “all-around leader.”

“Any company would love to hire this kid,” he said. “We have players speak in front of recruits all the time and their parents. He gets up there and is very articulate, passionate about what he talks about, clear and concise and he certainly delivers a great message, so I think that makes him stand out above the other people.”

Last season, Villanueva ranked in the top five in the conference in receptions (50, third), receptions per game (5.0, second), receiving yards (655, fourth), receiving yards per game (6.5, third) and yards per reception (13.1, third).

“The system is great and practicing every day and just being part of the system kind of made it happen,” Villanueva said. “My teammates make me that much better, I just happened to be the one in the right place at the right time.”

Villanueva said he has a new appreciation for the game of football now, after going a year without it.

“Coming to Curry changed my whole life,” Villanueva said. “It was probably the greatest decision I’ve ever made. Whether I have anything going on in my personal life or school, once I step foot between those sidelines and get on the field, all that goes out the window and it’s a whole new life. I loved the game my whole life but having that time off made me realize it’s not always going to be there for me so I have to take advantage of it while I have it.”

Rejoining a W-H teammate at Curry: Anderson commits to play volleyball

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Amanda Anderson, a senior at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, will continue her volleyball career at Curry College next season.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior Amanda Anderson has committed to play volleyball at Curry College.

A key factor in Anderson’s decision was the ability to reunite with former W-H girls’ volleyball teammate and good friend Jordyn Keith, a rising sophomore on the Curry women’s volleyball team.

Amanda Anderson, front, sets for a return during action at W-H this fall. She has signed on to join former teammate Jordyn Keith at Curry College in the fall. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“I went to one of her games in September and October and then in between that time I also visited their school and talked to the coach there,” Anderson explained. “And then he saw me playing for my club team. Once I saw their team play, I really wanted to join the team. Jordyn was always talking about how great her new coach is and stuff and it made me excited to talk to him and stuff, too.”

Anderson was a two-year starter at outside hitter for the Panthers and co-captained the club this past season. She ended her career with 104 digs, 94 kills and 76 aces.

“Amanda had been preparing to be a senior varsity captain her whole volleyball career and fit in naturally to the role working along with Halle (Julian),” first-year W-H girls’ volleyball head coach Ashley Balbian, who coached Anderson at the junior varsity level her sophomore season, said. “In my opinion, what made her excel was her positive outlook and attitude.”

Anderson dealt with her fair share of adversity on the court. After an injury cut short her junior campaign, she fractured her foot in the first practice of this past season. While the injury kept her out of game action for the opening month, it didn’t hinder her from making a making a positive impression. 

“Of course, she was upset but bounced back and showed up the next day on crutches asking what she could do to help,” Balbian said. “During the season when our record wasn’t great and Amanda was stuck on the bench she set such a great example for her teammates and younger girls in the program. Her positive encouragement while injured became an inspiration for us. I really respect how she handled that whole situation.”

While Anderson provided the younger girls an example on the bench, she did in practice as well, leading the junior varsity and freshman teams in a variety of drills during the course of the season.  

“Helping the younger girls is very good for our program for getting them stronger to be good players and be leaders and take over Halle and my spot,” Anderson said. “I love helping them because I want them to fill in my shoes when all the seniors are gone to keep the program going and winning games.”

Anderson’s work with the younger players shined at its brightest in the Panthers’ final contest of the fall, a 3-1 win over Bridgewater-Raynham. After starting her regulars, Balbian lifted them in the second set and inserted a bevy of girls who had come up from junior varsity, many that Anderson mentored.

“It made me feel proud of being their captain and looking back and knowing that it was because of all us seniors who helped get them this far,” Anderson said. “And definitely keeping the attitude going because that’s how people win games, you have to keep your attitude very positive at all times.”

Anderson said her fondest memory on the court at W-H came during her junior season in a 3-2 victory over Pembroke.

“We were in the fifth set and it was 13-13 and there was a play where the ball went up and I had to kill it and I broke the tie and then it was 14-13,” she explained. “The moment was so intense and it was so awesome because all I saw was Halle looking at me and she’s like, ‘Don’t mess up.’

“And I got it and she got the winning point right after me and that was the best feeling in the whole world getting those two points because it felt like the most intense game we’d ever played as a team.”

Balbian said Curry is receiving a natural leader on and off the court in Anderson.

“Curry College is getting a dedicated student athlete who is excited about her major in psychology but also passionate about playing volleyball and being part of a team,” Balbian explained. 

Curry, which competes in the Commonwealth Coast Conference of NCAA Division III, finished 11-18 last season.

“I definitely want to improve on my back row playing time and my hitting on certain spots and stuff like that,” Anderson said. “Just like little detail things to help me improve and get better. The goal of all of it is to be a starter on their team, but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

Keith takes volleyball skills to Curry starting lineup

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W-H alum Jordyn Keith, seen at a recent practice session, earned a starting spot in the season-opener vs. Fisher College on Sept. 1. Her goal for next season is to work on her strength and speed. / Courtesy photo: Curry College Athletic Dept.

Whitman-Hanson alum Jordyn Keith is the only freshman starter on Curry College’s women’s volleyball team.

It was three years ago when members of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team took a trip to Curry College to soak in a few sets as spectators.

One of those on the adventure was then-sophomore Jordyn Keith, who immediately fell in love with the campus. She then went home, did some research, before ultimately applying. After getting in, she soon received an email from new Colonels head coach Bori May, asking her to attend preseason on a tryout basis. After a week of play, she was penned on Curry’s women’s volleyball roster.

As if making the team was not enough excitement for Keith, May tabbed her as a starter ahead of Curry’s season opener against Fisher College on Sept. 1. That was something she never expected.

“Being a freshman starter is a huge accomplishment for me,” Keith said. “I came into the season not knowing if I would even play a single game, and it shocked me when [coach May] told me I would be starting.”

Keith –– the only Colonels freshman starter –– finished the season with 69 kills, 12 assists, 52 service aces and 181 digs to her credit.

Keith said one of the struggles she faced this fall was a position change, something she was no stranger too. As a senior at Whitman-Hanson, she was shifted from outside hitter and defensive specialist to libero, where she flourished, leading the Patriot League in digs and aces. At Curry, the 5-foot-4 Keith saw action as not only a libero, but as an outside hitter and defensive specialist as well.

“I had to adjust to hitting and blocking which isn’t easy, but I’ve improved since I began hitting on the team,” Keith said.

Another struggle Keith endured is just mustering up enough confidence to go out and compete against some of the wily veterans she goes up against. Her solution: try to smile and think positively, no matter what.

“As the only freshman starter, it is difficult to be new to college volleyball and to transition from being a senior in high school, to a freshman again in college where all the older girls are more comfortable and experienced than I am,” she said. “I think about how I am on that court for a reason, and that everyone has bad games. We win and lose as a team.”

Former Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball head coach Josh Gray, who coached Keith for three years on varsity, said he’s seen her grow her game immensely.

“I first met Jordyn in my first season coaching at Whitman-Hanson and from day one of tryouts I knew that she was a special player,” Gray said. “There was no doubt in my mind that she was going to make varsity and that she would contribute from the start. She was so committed and devoted to the sport and did whatever she could to get better every day. “

Gray said Keith’s dedication to her craft has played a major role in the player she is today.

“Jordyn is one of those players who gives everything she has to her team and is willing to do whatever it takes to give her team has a chance to win,” Gray said. “Jordyn’s ability to read the ball and react to it before anyone else is one of her greatest assets on the court because it allows her to make plays others can’t.”

As Keith heads into the offseason, she said she is going to keep doing the things that got her to this point.

“One major goal I have is to work hard for next season,” Keith said. “I am going to start going to the gym more often to stay in shape and to work on becoming stronger and faster on the court.”