[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1286-H1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR 
        WINNING NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 99) commending the University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln volleyball team for winning the NCAA Division I 
Women's Volleyball Championship, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 99

       Whereas the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker 
     volleyball team won the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's 
     Volleyball National Championship at the Qwest Center in 
     Omaha, Nebraska, on December 16, 2006;
       Whereas Husker junior Sarah Pavan was chosen as the 
     Nation's top collegiate female volleyball player, winning the 
     2006-07 Honda Sports Award for volleyball;
       Whereas Pavan was named the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-
     American of the Year, becoming Nebraska's 234th Academic All-
     American and the program's 29th Academic All-American in 
     volleyball, totals that lead the Nation;
       Whereas the Huskers completed the 2006 season with a record 
     of 33-1;
       Whereas Husker head coach John Cook has lead the team to 2 
     national championships;
       Whereas the Husker volleyball team made its sixth 
     appearance in the NCAA finals;
       Whereas the 2006 Huskers are only the third team in the 
     history of the NCAA to lead the American Volleyball Coaches 
     Association poll for an entire season;
       Whereas the entire Husker volleyball team should be 
     commended for its determination, work ethic, attitude, and 
     heart;
       Whereas the University of Nebraska is building an 
     impressive legacy of excellence in its volleyball program; 
     and
       Whereas the University of Nebraska volleyball players have 
     brought great honor to themselves, their families, their 
     university, and the State of Nebraska: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker 
     volleyball team for winning the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's 
     Volleyball National Championship; and
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and staff whose hard work and dedication made the 
     Championship possible.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.

[[Page H1287]]

                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
Members may have 5 legislative days to insert material relevant to 
House Resolution 99 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln for winning the NCAA Division I Women's 
Volleyball Championship.
  On December 16, 2006, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers 
volleyball team won the 2006 NCAA Division I Championship by defeating 
the Stanford University Cardinals at the Qwest Center in Omaha, 
Nebraska.
  I want to extend my congratulations to head coach John Cook, head 
assistant coach Lee Meas, assistant coach Charlene Johnson-Tagaloa, and 
the director of volleyball operations Lindsay Wischmeier. Also 
supporting the team was athletic director Steve Pederson and the 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor Harvey Perlman.
  The Huskers, Mr. Speaker, had an exceptional record of 33-1 and had 
four All-Americans on their team. Junior Sarah Pavan also won the 2006-
2007 Honda Sports Award. This award is given to the Nation's top 
collegiate female volleyball player. Pavan was also named the ESPN 
Magazine Academic All-American of the Year.
  And I also want to extend my congratulations to the Stanford 
University Cardinals. The Cardinals had a record of 30-4. The Cardinals 
were the PAC-10 Conference champions and were honored by four women 
receiving All-American honors.

                              {time}  1115

  Student athletes, as we know, balance a rigorous school workload with 
the many practices and games in which they compete.
  So I am proud of all the student athletes for their dedication to 
their school work and their sport. The NCAA promotes its 380,000 
student athletes to work with numerous service organizations, including 
the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer 
Society.
  Winning the national championship and finishing the season with a 33-
1 record has brought positive national recognition and attention to the 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and I know that the fans of the 
university will cherish this moment as they look forward to the 2007 
season.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln for their success.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in support of House Resolution 
99. This resolution honors the top-ranked University of Nebraska 
women's volleyball team for their victory over the second-ranked 
Stanford University Cardinals. The Huskers rallied to defeat Stanford 
3-1 for their third NCAA Division I women's volleyball championship in 
front of a record crowd of 17,209 fans at the Quest Center in Omaha.
  Led by four All-Americans, including national player of the year 
Sarah Pavan, the Huskers won the school's ninth Big 12 title in 11 
years with a 19-1 Big 12 record, and a 33-1 overall record. This is the 
second national title that the team has won with head coach John Cook 
leading the team.
  I extend my congratulations to Coach John Cook, all of the 
hardworking players, the fans and the University of Nebraska. I am 
happy to join my good friends and colleagues, Representatives Smith, 
Fortenberry, and Terry, in honoring this exceptional team and all of 
its accomplishments, and wish all involved success in the future.
  My only regret, since I enjoy playing volleyball myself, is that I 
never had the opportunity to watch them play in person. But it would 
have been a real pleasure, had I been able to.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Mr. Smith, the sponsor of this 
resolution, I apologize on his behalf that he is unable to be here, but 
he dearly wanted to be here to speak on this resolution. In his 
absence, I am next pleased to yield 3 minutes to another gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for 
his time and his commendations of the University of Nebraska volleyball 
team.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to also thank Representative Adrian Smith for 
originally sponsoring this resolution congratulating all the members of 
the volleyball team. I am pleased to cosponsor this resolution as well 
to bring attention to the national successes of this team out of 
Lincoln.
  Just a month ago, as it was mentioned, the team won the 2006 NCAA 
Division I women's volleyball championship. I am very proud of the 
Husker team and particularly proud to say that this team represents all 
of Nebraska.
  Mr. Speaker, success isn't something that just happens. It takes 
forethought, hard work, persistence and dedication, and the members of 
the Huskers women's volleyball team certainly earned it.
  Every member of the team should be commended for her dedication, as 
well as Head Coach John Cook, who led the team with skill and 
discipline. Under Coach Cook's leadership, the team finished the season 
with an astounding record of 33-1. Not only did Coach Cook lead this 
team to a national championship, but this is his third time in that 
leadership seat.
  The University of Nebraska women's volleyball team is a shining 
example of the best that Nebraska has to offer. Again, I would like to 
congratulate the team.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the previous speaker for 
commending me for my support of Nebraska athletes. That is certainly 
true, except for one time when I was invited to speak to a conference 
at the University of Nebraska. At this conference, I was speaking on 
teaching better mathematics in elementary schools. Then I saw a huge 
billboard as I was driving into Lincoln to give the speech, and I saw 
how badly they needed my speech on mathematics, because there was a big 
billboard that announced ``Welcome to the University of Nebraska. Home 
of the number one football team in America.'' Well, that year, of 
course, Michigan was the number one team, but Nebraska refused to 
concede that.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to another 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, yes, we enjoy, ranking member, former 
chairman, Michigan Stater, having that 1997 national championship 
trophy prominently displayed when you walk into the athletic 
facilities. It is too bad that we weren't able to leave that game on 
the field back then, but I am sure that Nebraska would have won by 30 
or 40 points.
  Now, I have to defend the football team, Mr. Speaker, when challenged 
like that.
  But I am so proud of our women's volleyball team and to be a 
cosponsor with Adrian Smith of this resolution. What an incredible 
achievement. Our volleyball team started the season ranked number one 
with high expectations and ended the season number one in a hard-fought 
duel with Stanford, the number two rated team in the Nation. And some 
even had the audacity to think that Stanford was a better team. But, 
boy, it was the match of a century, two titans battling it out. And the 
University of Nebraska in the fifth game prevailed for the national 
championship.
  Not only are we proud of the University of Nebraska women's 
volleyball team for their play on the court but also those in 
attendance. My hometown of Omaha hosted the national championship 
tournament, and we now hold the record for attendance for a women's 
volleyball match in America; 17,200 fans attended each session. I think 
that speaks well of the sports enthusiasm in Nebraska.

[[Page H1288]]

  I also want to acknowledge one of the players on that team, Sarah 
Pavan, a junior, who has become the second player in NCAA history to be 
named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year 
and Academic All-American of the year from ESPN Magazine. That is truly 
a student athlete.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join the Nebraska delegation today in 
recognizing the outstanding play of our volleyball team, the coaching 
and the support that this volleyball team has from its fans in 
Nebraska.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I am pleased 
to yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am just going to close on 
this resolution and thank my colleagues for bringing it to the floor. 
This is House Resolution 99, which commends the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln volleyball team for winning the NCAA Division I women's 
volleyball championship. It has been fun for me to listen to my 
colleagues as they commend this spectacular team. And even though I am 
a Californian, I still want to let them know that this is a wonderful 
accomplishment, and particularly, I applaud the women athletes that 
were part of this contest.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 99, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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