EAST PROVIDENCE — The special “Fall 2” season sponsored by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League in response to the COVID-19 pandemic not only marked the offering of truncated football and girls’ volleyball seasons, but also one for the Unified Volleyball athletes at East Providence High School and others around the state.

“Unified” sports, which also includes basketball in the usual spring season, are operated in conjunction between the RIIL and Rhode Island Special Olympics, which funds the program on a state-wide basis. It is typically the autumn athletics option for special needs students joined by their general population peers.

The 2021 EPHS Unified Volleyball team includes Benjamin Nascimento, PJ Kochan, Alicia Pacheco, Kyle Soares, Tyler Soares, Shane Lavin, Issiah Lopes, Amy Tewksbury, Alexis Silva-Rosa, Gabrielle Phaneuf, Dylan Figueroa and Franchelis Peguero-Sanchez. Dana Brodin and Bruce Zarembka are the coaches.

The Townies are in the midst of a six-match regular season schedule, which included a game at home last week, April 7, against Portsmouth.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.