[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 136 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11355-H11356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL VICTORIOUS IN VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
(Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks and include extraneous
material.)
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, last year I was in Macon, Georgia, for the
Girls' State Championship Basketball Game, and it was a great thrill
when I saw that the Savannah Country Day girls were victorious.
Last night, unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but many of the
same young women were victorious in winning Savannah Country Day's
first volleyball championship, which I believe is also the first
volleyball championship for Savannah, Georgia.
They do a great job. They work hard and I have, Mr. Speaker, the
roster of the young women who played on that team. And I will submit
that for the Record, as well as the name of the coaches.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to take particular pleasure in bragging
about my very own goddaughter, Sarah Sipple, who is one of the team's
leaders and one of the great athletes of that school, who was very much
in the thick of the action yesterday. I regret I could not have been
there in person, but I watched these young women grow up, many since
they were 2 years old and 3 years old.
I can tell my colleagues, there are great things going on in
Savannah, Georgia, with woman athletics; but even more than that, I am
proud to say it is going on nationally.
Athletics is something that teaches us all to be better people,
better team players, better citizens in the long run and to take care
of ourselves. It makes us more competitive as a Nation, so I am proud
to see that Savannah Country Day School is doing its part, and I am
especially proud of the coach and all of these young women.
[From the Savannah Morning News, Oct. 26, 2000]
Country Day defeats Landmark Christian for Savannah's first title
(By Jeff Sentell)
There was too much at stake--the program's first state
volleyball championship, Savannah's first title in the sport
and the second crown for five well-deserving leaders.
There were too many people counting on them--fans who
wanted to experience another title at the school, future
players who wanted inspiration and a community that wanted to
experience history.
There was their need to fulfill a season-long goal--one
that stood so close, yet appeared to be slipping away.
As Savannah Country Day began Game 4 in Wednesday night's
state Class AA/A title match, those thoughts raced through
the players' minds. Each came to the same decision before
completing a 15-7, 15-10, 12-15, 15-13 win over visiting
Landmark Christian.
``Losing was not an option,'' junior Melissa McNaughton
said, ``We wanted it more than anything, so we refused to
lose.''
Late in the third game, a long-awaited title for the
program and the city, along with state-wide respect appeared
a foregone conclusion. The Lady Hornets (29-11) led Landmark
12-8 and owned the serve. They already had impressive
victories in the first two games against a team they split
two hard-fought matches with this season.
Minutes later, the Lady War Eagles (42-9) unleashed seven
consecutive points to win the game and stave off elimination.
Momentum shifted as well, and the Lady War Eagles knew it.
They strutted onto the court for Game 4 with big smiles and
were ready to force a decisive fifth game.
``But we focused on the task at hand,'' SCD junior Mary
Jane Martin said. ``We knew what we had to do. We pulled it
together, and we pulled it out.''
Landmark built leads of 9-5, 11-9 and 13-12 in the fourth
game. But an unyielding desire and determination sparked a
final surge.
Anne Carson's consecutive kills off Lexa Clark's assists
finished the job and set off a wild celebration.
``Oh my gosh--I can't describe what this feels like,''
Carson said. ``I'll never forget this. I'll cherish this for
the rest of my life.''
[[Page H11356]]
``I've never had anything like that happen,'' Sipple said
after escaping a barrage of fans that converged on the team
at midcourt. ``It's amazing.''
SCD's fans provided a spark for the team from the outset.
It only took 21 minutes for the Lady Hornets to dispatch
Landmark in the first game.
SCD led 9-3 before the Lady War Eagles became comfortable
in the match. More important, the trio of Carson (nine
kills), Sipple (17 kills) and Clark (44 assists) found their
rhythm, and SCD's supporting cast lent a helping hand.
``Anne and Sarah really hit the ball well, but everybody
did well,'' Clark said. ``We knew we could get it done as
long as we came together.''
SCD only trailed twice in the first two games, at 3-2 in
Game 1 and 1-0 in Game 2, But Landmark rebounded behind the
play of Julie Van't Wout (14 kills, four blocks).
The 6-foot junior's aggressiveness at the net offensively
and defensively caused problems for the Lady Hornets,
especially in Game 3. So SCD chose to maneuver around her.
``She's an absolutely great player,'' Carson said. ``So we
had to be smart. We had to start tipping the ball and going
around the blocks.'' The Lady Hornets also relied on past
experiences. They lost a game apiece to Landmark and Athens
Academy during last Saturday's Elite Eight tournament. Each
time, they rallied to victory.
``That gave us a lot of confidence,'' Sipple said. ``We
have been playing so well lately. So we knew we could do
it.''
McNaughton added, ``We didn't give up, because we refused
to give up. We wanted to be a part of something special, and
this is special.''
Elizabeth Eichholz, Betsy Miller, Sarah Sipple--Captain,
Julia Train--Captain, Anne Carson, Melissa McNaughton, Mary
Jane Martin--Captain, Alison Morris, Lexa Clark, Wendy Mayer,
and Sall Sumer.
Jade Aaron, Caroline Baker, Alex Brennan, Katie Coy,
Marquin McMath, Lyn Reeve, Ashley Jones, Jennifer Ross,
Katherine Royal, and Lizzy Sprague.
Coaching staff: Ben Ladd--head coach, Carol Schretter, and
Phillip Schretter.
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