[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H164-H165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATING THE PENN STATE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1015) congratulating the Penn State women's 
volleyball team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I national 
championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1015

       Whereas the Penn State Nittany Lions continued a 102 match 
     winning streak, the longest Division I women's streak, to win 
     the 2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball championship;
       Whereas head coach Russ Rose has 1,001 wins to his name, 
     all of which have come at the helm of the Penn State program;
       Whereas the Penn State women's volleyball team has won 65 
     consecutive Big Ten matches and owns the top 3 winning 
     streaks in league history;
       Whereas Megan Hodge, Alisha Glass, and juniors Blair Brown 
     and Arielle Wilson were named AVCA First Team All-Americans 
     and Megan Hodge was the 2009 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-
     American of the Year;
       Whereas the Nittany Lions women's volleyball team has won 
     74 straight home matches and the program also owns the NCAA's 
     longest road winning streak at 50 straight matches;
       Whereas the Nittany Lions women's volleyball team has 
     amassed at least 20 wins 33 times; and
       Whereas the athletic excellence demonstrated by the Penn 
     State women's volleyball team is one example of the athletic, 
     academic, and collegiate excellence of Penn State's students, 
     faculty, administration, and alumni: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Penn State women's volleyball team 
     and the university's athletes, coaches, faculty, students, 
     and alumni on the winning of the 2009 NCAA Division I women's 
     volleyball championship; and
       (2) recognizes Penn State for its recognized excellence as 
     an institution of higher education.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1015 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Penn State women's 
volleyball team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball 
championship tournament.
  On December 19, 2009, the top-ranked Penn State women's volleyball 
team made history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive 
national titles and four overall NCAA national championships. The Penn 
State Nittany Lions entered the tournament ranked as the top seed and 
defeated the Texas Longhorns in dramatic fashion. After trailing 0-2 in 
the championship match, Penn State put together an amazing come-from-
behind effort, eventually winning 3-2. The Penn State women's 
volleyball team holds the Nation's longest winning streak with 102 
matches.

                              {time}  1545

  With a 30-0 record, a top-ranked season, and a national championship, 
Penn State has much to be proud of.
  Senior Megan Hodge led the Nittany Lions with 21 points, while both 
junior Blair Brown and freshman Darcy Dorton contributed 13 points in 
the championship match. Brown made 14 saves, Hodge had 13, and senior 
setter Alisha Glass had 12. Hodge, Brown, Glass, and Arielle Wilson, a 
junior, were named American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team 
All-Americans, and Hodge was the 2009 ESPN, the Magazine Academic All-
American of the year. Quite a feat considering the demands of an elite 
Division I athletic program.
  Congratulations are also in order for Coach Russ Rose. After this 
year, he posted 1,001 wins in his career at Penn State. Heading one of 
the most successful programs in the country, Russ Rose collects wins at 
a staggering pace. Never having posted less than 22 wins in a season, 
he understands how to bring the best out of his athletes and coaching 
staff.
  Volleyball demands extreme focus and composure. The Penn State 
women's volleyball team earned the highest athletic honor, a national 
championship. I know the fans, alumni, students, faculty, and athletes 
will relish this experience and look forward to next year's season.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I congratulate the Penn State women's 
volleyball team for their success, and thank Representative Thompson 
for bringing this resolution forward.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1015--
Congratulating the Penn State women's volleyball team on winning the 
2009 NCAA Division I National Championship.
  Pennsylvania State University, or Penn State, as it is widely known, 
is a public research university founded in 1855 as the Farmers' High 
School of Pennsylvania. In 1875 the school became Pennsylvania State 
College and in 1989, became Pennsylvania State University. Today, Penn 
State offers 160 different majors and has over 43,000 students enrolled 
at the main campus.
  Penn State has a strong reputation for its academic excellence. It is 
known as one of the ``Public Ivies'' and as a premier research 
institution. Notable alumni can be found in every region of the nation 
and abroad.
  Penn State athletics are also known for their excellence. The Nittany 
Lions have won 65 national collegiate championships, 37 of which are 
NCAA championships. The women's volleyball team won one of Penn State's 
most recent national titles.
  The Nittany Lions women's volleyball team has a long history of 
winning. In the national championship, the Nittany Lions continued 
their long-standing winning streak to 102 wins, the longest NCAA 
Division I winning streak. During the 2009 season, Penn State clinched 
its 7th consecutive Big Ten title and its 13th Big Ten title in its 
history. The Nittany Lions

[[Page H165]]

also own the longest road winning streak with 50 straight road wins. 
Head coach Russ Rose led the team to his 1001st career victory in the 
championship game.
  In the championship game against the University of Texas, senior 
Megan Hodge led the team with 21 kills, while Blair Brown and Darcy 
Dorton contributed with 12 kills each. Megan Hodge, Blair Brown, Alisha 
Glass and Arielle Wilson were also named All-Americans.
  I congratulate Penn State and the team, the players, head coach Russ 
Rose, the students, faculty and alumni. I urge my colleagues to join me 
in supporting this resolution.
  I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I thank my colleague for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 1015, a resolution 
congratulating the Penn State women's volleyball team on winning the 
2009 NCAA Division I national championship.
  Exactly 1 month ago today, the Pennsylvania State University women's 
volleyball team staged a stunning come-from-behind victory against the 
University of Texas Lady Longhorns and took home their third 
consecutive NCAA national championship.
  Their record is long and distinguished, starting with a 102-match 
winning streak that began in September 2007. It is the longest Division 
I women's winning streak and the second longest in NCAA history. The 
Nittany Lions volleyball team has won 65 consecutive Big Ten matches.
  The women were led by superwomen seniors Megan Hodge and Alisha 
Glass, who own a career record of 142 wins and only 5 losses. Theirs is 
the best 4-year winning percentage of any graduating class at Penn 
State.
  Hodge finished her career ranking second on Penn State's career kills 
list with 2,142. She is just the second Lady Lion in the program's 
history to reach the 2,000 career kills milestone. Glass finished her 
career fourth on Penn State's career assists list with 5,799.
  Hodge, Glass, and juniors Blair Brown and Arielle Wilson were named 
the American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-Americans. 
Hodge was also named the Coaches Association National Player of the 
Year for 2009.
  Freshman Darcy Dorton was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 
the Coaches Association Mideast Region Freshman of the Year.
  Nittany Lion Coach Russ Rose reached his 1,000th career victory 
against Hawaii in the national semifinals, and he heads into the 2010 
season with 1,001 wins, all at the helm of the Penn State women's 
volleyball program.
  All the members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation and Penn 
State alum Congressman Frank Wolf signed a letter to President Obama 
asking that he and the First Lady host this remarkable team at the 
White House. These young women have shown a tremendous dedication to 
both their sport and their academic endeavors, and are true ambassadors 
for Pennsylvania State University and all college athletes.
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask support for the resolution in honor of a 
team with the spirit and drive to lead and to win, the Penn State 
women's Nittany Lion volleyball team.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to end my remarks by thanking 
Mr. Thompson, the introducer of this resolution. I heard him mention 
the University of Hawaii, which, as you know, is also a powerhouse 
volleyball women's team. So it just goes to show how far we have come 
with title IX. And that title was named for my friend and predecessor, 
the late Patsy T. Mink.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1015.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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