The last seconds of the 2013 RIIL Division 1 championship game dwindle away. The crowd is on their feet, yelling at the top of their lungs as the match point is being served. The roar of the fans deafens all noises, making it difficult to hear the coaches on the sideline. The serve slices through the air and crosses the net but NK recovers and sets the ball as a teammate leaps and strikes the ball for the final kill of the game. The NK team storms the court and swarms the man of the hour: Jake Owen.

Senior outside hitter Jake Owen started playing volleyball his freshman year of high school. He began his career with the simple thought of trying to make a sports team that would utilize his athleticism. Soon enough, he developed a knack for the sport and was able to translate his skills throughout his four years at North Kingstown High School, while also playing for Blast Volleyball Academy.

Height has always been Owen’s essential asset in developing his game. The 6’1” defender towers over other defenders with a 31” vertical, allowing him to create as much power and angular advantage before striking the ball. “Jake possesses natural athleticism,” said teammate Jacob Easter, “ no one constantly works hard year round to become an even better player than he already is.”

One of Owen’s other strong physical attributes is his speed. Owen has quick reaction time and is able to recognize the direction of the ball before leaping in efforts to block the opposing team. These qualities culminate into a tall yet fast and precise player who is able to lead his team to success.

Owen led the 2013 team to a remarkable 17-1-1 record while

winning the state championship. Last year, the team experienced a decline in prominent success with a record of 9-8, but hopes are still as high as ever this upcoming season as seven returning seniors strive to repeat what they have accomplished in previous years.

Last  year Owen ripped apart RI’s premier volleyball programs with 140 kills, 63 digs, and 30 aces. “Jake has been playing at the varsity level for three years. As a result, he brings a higher knowledge and experience that is beneficial to team,” said teammate Senior Zachary Roy.

Owen excels not only on the court but in the classroom as well. He has a class rank in the 70s with a 3.7 GPA, while taking three Advanced Placement classes.

In response to his great performance on the court, Owen was nominated onto the 2014-2015 Second Team All-State along with the 2014-2015 All Division Team. Along with these awards, Owen was voted Team MVP by his peers.

The rising star continues to practice on his skills five days a week for two hours. He hopes that his dedication and hard work will lead him into college, as he plans to attend Binghamton University in New York. “I’ve made a fairly large impact on the team the past two years, and I hope I can do the same in college,” said Owen.