[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 21363-21364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, FOR WINNING THE 2007 
                 MEN'S VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 511) congratulating the men's volleyball team 
of the University of California, Irvine, for winning the 2007 NCAA 
Division I Men's Volleyball National Championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 511

       Whereas the men's volleyball team of the University of 
     California, Irvine (UC Irvine), known as the Anteaters, 
     achieved many historic accomplishments during the 2006-2007 
     season;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team won the 
     school's first ever National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     (NCAA) Division I Men's Volleyball National Championship;
       Whereas Matt Webber, a senior on the UC Irvine men's 
     volleyball team, was selected as the tournament's most 
     valuable player with 22 kills in the championship match;
       Whereas UC Irvine men's volleyball players Brian Thornton, 
     Jayson Jablonsky, and David Smith were named to the All-
     Tournament Team;

[[Page 21364]]

       Whereas UC Irvine men's volleyball coach John Speraw is 
     only the third coach in history to win a NCAA volleyball 
     championship as both a player and as a head coach;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team finished with 
     29 victories, the most victories in school history;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team finished with 
     the most wins in the Nation for the 2006-2007 season;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team won the 2007 
     Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Men's Volleyball title;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team had four 
     players selected to the American Volleyball Coaches 
     Association (AVCA) All-America Team, the most by any team in 
     the Nation;
       Whereas middle blocker David Smith earned first-team 
     accolades on the AVCA All-America Team;
       Whereas Matt Webber, Jayson Jablonsky, and Brian Thornton 
     earned second-team accolades on the AVCA All-America Team;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team started the 
     season as the preseason favorite in the CSTV/AVCA Division I 
     Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team finished first 
     in the CSTV/AVCA Division I Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll, 
     released May 7, 2007;
       Whereas the UC Irvine men's volleyball team accomplished 
     these feats while playing a difficult schedule in the 
     Mountain Pacific Sports Federation;
       Whereas the title is UC Irvine's first Division I title 
     since 1989; and
       Whereas UC Irvine, under the leadership of Chancellor 
     Michael V. Drake, M.D., has continued to establish itself as 
     a world-class research university, and as one of the top 
     universities in the Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the men's volleyball team of the 
     University of California, Irvine, and its Chancellor, Michael 
     V. Drake, M.D., for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's 
     Volleyball National Championship; and
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, alumni, and staff who were instrumental in helping 
     the University of California, Irvine, win the national title.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for all Members to 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to congratulate the University of California, Irvine, for 
winning the NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball National Championship.
  On May 5, 2007, the University of California, Irvine, won the 2007 
NCAA Division I National Championship by defeating Indiana-Purdue 
University, Fort Wayne, known as IPFW in Columbus, Ohio. I want to 
congratulate the student athletes and coaches on an excellent season. 
We all take great pride in these athletes.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may 
consume to the bill's sponsor, Mr. Campbell of California.
  Mr. CAMPBELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Delaware for yielding.
  I rise today to congratulate the University of California, Irvine, 
men's volleyball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's 
Volleyball National Championship, as was mentioned, on May 5, 2007. I 
am very proud of the Anteater volleyball team, who won the school's 
first men's volleyball national championship after finishing this 2006/
2007 season with the most wins in the Nation.
  I would like to especially honor the leadership of Coach John Speraw 
and the talent and effort of each athlete who performed all season long 
to win this championship.
  I am proud today to celebrate the accomplishments of this team that 
represents a tradition of excellence at the University of California, 
Irvine. But, you know, it is not a very long tradition of excellence, 
because the University of California, Irvine, was only established in 
1965. But already in just over 40 years, the school has grown 
accustomed to receiving accolades in both academics and in sports as 
well. So I would like to also extend my congratulations to Chancellor 
Michael Drake, who is continuing this, albeit short, but continuing 
tradition at UCI of excellence in both sports and in academic fields, 
particularly in the fields of science and technology.
  So I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this achievement 
and supporting H. Res. 511.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to congratulate the 
University of California-Irvine for its tremendous victory and 
dominance in the Division I Men's Volleyball National Championship. And 
I congratulate the gentleman from California for his sponsorship 
honoring this team, which did such an extraordinary job.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 511.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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