Unified Volleyball Raises the Pepin Roof in Win over Cranston West

The last time The Network checked in with the Hawks' Unified volleyball team, it was to celebrate a state championship:

As great as last season was, it's certain that all the returning players from last year's squad have no intention of resting on their laurels or in any way taking for granted that they're now part of the legendary Hendricken championship athletic program. This year they've picked up right where they left off and convincingly demonstrated that in front of a packed and loud Pepin Gym this morning in a special matinee contest against the visiting Cranston West Falcons.

Our guys largely controlled the match, as they swept the first two games (which gave them the match by default) before dropping the third. Both teams played their hearts out - no doubt fueled by the energy in the gym -

and played well throughout the entire match. The Hawks were clearly on top of their game:

This was the second Unified event covered LIVE by The Network, the first having been one of the regular season basketball games this past spring. Today's play-by-play was handled largely by Johnathan Feeny and Bobby Bordieri, though Nate Kirshenbaum chimed in for a bit after having held down the social media duties for most of the match. "DT" Barron handled the camera work, Max Zweiner chipped in with some Instagram stuff, and Colton Capobianco did some sideline digital photography. The Network had an entire crew working this special, in-school event.

So, all-in-all, it was a great day. The Hawks took away the "W", most of the students got a break from class and a chance to exhort our Unified kids to victory, and both teams got to chow down at a post-game spread held in the Brothers' residence. Good stuff, all the way around.

With any luck, there'll be another championship interview in the coming weeks. Good luck to our defending state champs as the season continues to unfold.