EGHS Unified Volleyball Team Takes Nationals Again

They did again. The East Greenwich High School Unified Volleyball team won at Nationals for the second year in a row, this time in Louisville, Ky.

After breezing through their season last fall, the Avengers came into Nationals very strong.

"We cruised through the first day, winning three matches against teams from Arizona, New Hamphire, and North Carolina without losing a game," recounted coach Dave Egan. "The whole team was playing inspired volleyball. Our serving was strong, with notable serving from Patrick Quinn, Kim Whitaker, and Matt De Luca.... We had strong play at the net from Jon-Erik Hurtubise, Liam Shaughnessey, and Brandon Eckles. Mike Carne was all over the court making saves, and Tessa Egan had some of her strongest play of the year, with one particular play requiring a quick pivot and off-to-the-side save."

The semfinals on Sunday also went EG's way, with a second win over North Carolina. But the Avengers came up against very tough competition in the final, against the Arizona Outlaws. EG had beaten Arizona on Saturday, but in that first set, the Outlaws dominated. 

"We had a few issues with the first game of the finals – our only loss throughout the championship – because all of us were nervous, frightened, and tense," said athlete Jon-Erik Hurtubise. "The Outlaws were excited, focused, and playing hard.... However, in the second and third games of the finals, we played unified (the way we play best), got it together, played our game, and won both games, and thus the match."

"We'd never lost a first set," said coach Patty Carosotto. They came back, she said, because "they just were so steadfast."

The Avengers beat the Outlaws 2 sets to 1.

In unified sports, athletes with special needs play with "partner" athletes, in a 50-50 ratio. Playing "unified," then, means the ultimate in teamwork.

"We won because we believed in one another, and knew that our skill and experience of playing in the big games was going to help us," said athlete Mike Carne, who had played in Nationals last year in Salt Lake City.

Athlete Liam Shaughnessey wasn't able to go to Nationals last year because he wasn't yet 16. He was thrilled to go this year and found the whole experience exciting ("an amazing part of the country. Louisville, Kentucky is a very vibrant city"). Winning Nationals was a happy surprise for Liam.

"I was surprised we won because I thought it would be stretching it a little too far to win a second national championship," he said. "I think our success was due to great coaching and a unified team."

For the partner athletes, who are there to help but not steal the show, the experience was equally thrilling.

"It wasn't just winning that made the experience so exciting, but sharing the win with our athletes, coaches, and parents," said partner Kim Whittaker. "The heart all of the partners have for the team really shined this weekend and it was so emotional for me to say goodbye to all the seniors who won't be playing next year. They will be gone from the team but the memories we all share are eternal."

"We were playing to win, but we were going to win by playing unified," said Brandon Eckles of the partners. "We stayed composed and made sure that the athletes were ready for the next play. Playing unified was a big reason as well. That's the whole purpose. Now it is spectacular that we won, but the medals aren't what matters. It is the smiles and excitement spread across the faces of the athletes that's the real gold. Seeing them succeed like that was what it is all about. I was just happy to contribute to it."

He continued, "The most amazing thing about this weekend was the little things. Tessa [Egan] was crushing balls over the net ... Pat [Quinn] and Matt DeLuca was serving exceptionally, Liam [Shaughnessey] and Jon-Erik [Hurtubise] were beasts on the front line. And of course Mike Carne was all over the place making sure that he did everything in his power to bring it home."

"EG took ... first place in the national tournament with a collective effort that included many personal-best performances, a testament to their hard work and dedication to helping their teammates achieve success," said Coach Egan. "We call it 'playing Unified.'"

"They were amazing," said Coach Carosotto. "It just all came together."