[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5171-S5172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AND THE RECORD-SETTING
VOLLEYBALL DAY IN NEBRASKA EVENT ON AUGUST 30, 2023
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, on August 30, Nebraska made history.
Thousands of spectators streamed into Lincoln's Memorial Stadium for
two women's volleyball matches: the first between the University of
Nebraska at Kearney and Wayne State College and the second between the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Omaha.
On Volleyball Day in Nebraska, we broke a world record. Our Nebraska
team set the new record for attendance at a women's sporting event:
92,003 fans. Volleyball Day in Nebraska took months of preparation to
pull off, but the University of Nebraska did it successfully. Our
Nebraska colleges planned and worked hard in anticipation of this new
record. It is a picture of Nebraska. We are a State that is defined by
dedication, drive, and--most of all--by community.
Nebraskans showcased that dedication and drive as they came together
to get as many people as possible in the stands. And when they got
there, they supported and encouraged players and fans alike. Whether
the spectators were Husker, Maverick, Lopers, or Wildcat fans, they
showed sportsmanship and good will.
In response to Nebraska's exciting new record, we are passing a
resolution today that would celebrate women's collegiate athletics in
our home State. This resolution will recognize the historic Volleyball
Day in Nebraska on a Federal level.
In addition to attendance at a women's sporting event, Volleyball Day
in Nebraska broke several other records. The event exceeded the
previous attendance record for NCAA women's volleyball. The new women's
volleyball record of 92,003 fans in attendance is almost five times
more than the old record of 18,755. The August 30 match also exceeded
the attendance record for UNL's Memorial Stadium.
Our resolution specifically honors Nebraska's former coach Pat
Sullivan, who started the University of Nebraska volleyball program in
1975. It also honors former coach Terry Pettit, who built the
volleyball program from 1977 to 1999, and current coach John Cook, who
has sustained excellence in this program since the year 2000.
And the team has sustained excellence ever since Volleyball Day in
Nebraska. Our UNL women's volleyball team won the battle of the
undefeated against Wisconsin this past weekend, and our team is now
ranked No. 1. This Senate resolution celebrates a special day for
women, for volleyball players, and for all Nebraskans. I am proud to
bring well-deserved recognition to this unique accomplishment. As we
often say, there is no place like Nebraska.
And I would yield the floor to my colleague from Nebraska, Senator
Ricketts.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The junior Senator from Nebraska.
Mr. RICKETTS. Mr. President, I am here today to join my senior
Senator to celebrate this historic achievement for our State of
Nebraska and women's athletics.
Nebraskans, we love our sports. And we are particularly proud of the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers. Today, I especially want to
point out our pride in the UNL women's volleyball program. As my senior
Senator just recognized, they are the No. 1 team in the Nation. We have
had five national championships in volleyball in the State of Nebraska.
It is the third most in the NCAA. That is also as many national
championships as we have had for our college football team. The
volleyball program has nine former Olympians. The Husker women have
also played on the U.S. National Team. In fact, three of them are on
that team right now. They are also pioneers in name, image, and
likeness.
As my senior Senator pointed out, we just beat the previous No. 1,
undefeated University of Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday night in a five-
set thriller that lived up to its billing as the match of the century.
In 2022, our volleyball team led the Nation with an average attendance
of 8,190 fans per game. We have had 314 consecutive sellouts in the
regular season. And for the last nine consecutive seasons, we have led
the Nation in attendance.
But earlier this year, Nebraskans helped the women's volleyball
program reach a new height, a world record. It was Volleyball Day in
Nebraska: 92,003 of the best fans in sports jammed into Memorial
Stadium to watch four women's volleyball programs highlight their
talent. The Wayne State College Wildcats took on the University of
Nebraska at Kearney Lopers, and the
[[Page S5172]]
Omaha Mavericks took on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers.
The eyes of the entire world were focused on Memorial Stadium.
Right in my home State of Nebraska, we had the most highly attended
women's sporting event in the world ever. As Omaha World-Herald
columnist Tom Shatel wrote:
Volleyball Day in Nebraska may be the biggest Title IX
statement of all time.
Volleyball Day demonstrated just how much progress we have made in
providing equal opportunity to our daughters, granddaughters, and
sisters in sports. Title IX was about leveling the playing field for
women's athletics. And for over 50 years, it has done just that. And,
of course, this is more than just about sports for many of these women.
Athletics have been a pathway for scholarships, educational
opportunities, and career pathways.
The University of Nebraska also prides itself in instilling life
skills into its student athletes. The Huskers Women's Volleyball
Program has been filled with remarkable student athletes in the truest
sense of the word. They lead the Nation with 40 volleyball Academic
All-Americans as part of a nation-leading 351 Academic All-Americans in
all sports. They also have three NCAA volleyball Elite 90 award
winners.
The players are the stars. But, of course, you can't have a good team
without a good coach. The Nebraska women's volleyball program has a
great one in Coach John Cook. Coach Cook has been a part of the
Nebraska volleyball family for 23 years. During that time, the team has
made the NCAA playoffs every single year. Under his eye, the women's
volleyball team has won four national championships. And in September
of 2022, Coach Cook celebrated his 800th career coaching win.
The Huskers' tagline is: ``In our grit, our glory.'' Volleyball Day
in Nebraska and a new world record in attendance at a women's sporting
event is the epitome of this motto.
Congratulations to everyone at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
whose grit made Volleyball Day possible and to all the other programs
who participated.
I also want to thank vice chancellor and athletic director Trev
Alberts and his team for their efforts. Thanks also to Coach Cook and
his staff, and most especially, thank you to the women of the
University of Nebraska volleyball program. You have given us something
very special to be proud of. Truly, there is no place like Nebraska.
Nebraska is what America is supposed to be.
And, finally, thank you to the senior Senator from Nebraska for
introducing this resolution. I am proud to join you in recognizing this
great achievement.
I yield back.
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I would like to thank my colleague
Senator Ricketts for his great comments in recognizing the women's
volleyball team, the State of Nebraska, and the great people that we
have.
Mr. President, and with that, I would ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 428, submitted earlier
today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 428) recognizing women's collegiate
athletics and record-setting Volleyball Day in Nebraska event
on August 30, 2023.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mrs. FISCHER. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to,
the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered
made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 428) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
____________________