[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WARRIOR MEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR
WINNING THE 2002 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 262, submitted
earlier by Senators Akaka and Inouye.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 262) commending the University of
Hawaii Volleyball Team for winning the 2002 National
Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Volleyball National
Championship.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution.
Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I am pleased to join my distinguished
colleague, the senior Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Inouye, in
congratulating the University of Hawaii's Warrior Volleyball team, the
2002 NCAA National Champions. The Warriors captured the title by
beating top-ranked Pepperdine University in four games Saturday evening
in State College, Pennsylvania. The national championship is the first
for any men's athletic program at the University of Hawaii in over 30
years of NCAA Division I competition.
Hawaii finished its championship season with a 24-8 record, and out-
hit and out-blocked a Pepperdine team that had beaten the Warriors in
their three previous meetings this season. Saturday's victory also
marked the 200th win for Warrior coach Mike Wilton in his ten-year
tenure at Hawaii.
Sports fans in Hawaii love the men's and women's volleyball teams at
the University of Hawaii. Hawaii has led the nation in attendance for
seven consecutive seasons. This season the Warriors drew 89,387 fans
for 16 home matches, an average of 5,587 per match, breaking the record
set last year. It is not unusual for almost 8,000 fans to pack the Stan
Sheriff Center on the UH-Manoa campus for a contest against a
conference rival. When you factor in the fact that all home matches are
televised, you get an appreciation of the popularity of Hawaii's
volleyball program.
The 2002 Volleyball National Champions are an extraordinary team.
They are also an international team. Three-time All-American and Final
Four MVP Costas Theocharidis is from Greece; Team captain Eyal Zimet is
from Israel; senior All-American Dejan Miladinovic is from Serbia.
Along with Hawaii's best prep players, men from Canada, the mainland
U.S., Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam, are a part of the 2002 Hawaii
Warrior's championship team this season. It is a credit to the players,
coaches, trainers and staff, that outstanding teamwork, years of hard
work and conditioning, and dedication to the sport they love, have
earned them the national championship.
The multinational 2002 champions are splendid representatives and
ambassadors for Hawaii. Hawaii is a multicultural State, where no race
or ethnicity has a majority. Our Culture reflects the rich mosaic of
Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Western cultures and traditions which are
shared, celebrated, and appreciated by Hawaii's people and visitors to
the islands. Immigrants from nations around the world have shared their
rich cultures and traditions, which in combination with the indigenous
Hawaiian culture, have created a special and wonderful place for
residents and visitors alike.
So it is with great pride and appreciation that I join my colleague
from Hawaii and the people of Hawaii in honoring the 2002 National
Champion University of Hawaii Warrior Volleyball team by offering a
resolution commending their championship season. I ask unanimous
consent that a roster of Warrior Volleyball players, coaches, and staff
be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See Exhibit 1.)
Mr. AKAKA. Congratulations to the Warriors players and Coach Mike
Wilton and his staff for a wonderful and historic season. Hawaii no ka
oi!
Exhibit No. 1
2002 HAWAII WARRIORS VOLLEYBALL ROSTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. and player Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Dejan Miladinovic......... MB 6-7 Sr. Kraljevo, Serbia
2. Geronimo Chala............ OH 6-6 Jr. Santiago de Cuba,
Cuba
3. Rob Drew.................. MB 6-8 Sr. San Diego, CA
4. Kimo Yuyay................ S 6-2 So. San Diego, CA
5. Jake Muise................ L 6-0 So. Halifax, Nova
Scotia
6. Eyal Zimet................ OH 6-2 Jr. Kibbutz Ein
Hamifratz,
Israel
7. Vernon Podiewski.......... L 5-8 Sr. Halimaile, Maui
8. Jeffrey Gleason........... OH 6-3 Jr. Hillsboro, OR
9. Costas Theocharidis....... OH 6-3 Jr. Orestiada, Greece
10. Jose Delgado.............. OH 6-3 Fr. San Juan, Puerto
Rico
11. Kyle Denitz............... DS 6-0 Jr. Carpineria, CA
12. Marvin Yamada............. DS 5-8 So. Barrigada
Heights, Guam
13. Matt Bender............... OH 6-3 Fr. Tucson, AZ
14. Ryan Woodward............. OH 6-3 Jr. Mililani, Oahu
15. Tony Ching................ OH 6-2 Jr. Honolulu
16. Brian Nordberg............ MB 6-5 Jr. Milwaukee, WI
17. Delano Thomas............. MB 6-7 Fr. Sacramento, CA
18. Daniel Rasay.............. S 6-2 Fr. Kailua-Kona,
Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head Coach: Mike Wilton (BYU-Hawaii, 1969); Assistant Coaches: Tino
Beyes (Cal Poly, 1984), Aaron Wilton (Hawaii, 1997); Manager: Marlo
Torres; Volunteer: Radford Nakamura; and Trainer: Michelle Landis.
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be
agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and
that any statements related thereto be printed in the Record, all
without any intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 262) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 262
Whereas on May 4, 2002, the University of Hawaii Warrior
Men's Volleyball Team won the national championship for the
first time;
Whereas the University of Hawaii defeated Pepperdine
University in 4 games in the championship match, having
previously defeated Penn State University in the semifinals;
Whereas this is the first national championship ever for
any men's athletic program at the University of Hawaii in 30
years of NCAA Division I competition;
Whereas the victory in the championship game gave Coach
Mike Wilton his first career NCAA title and his 200th victory
at the University of Hawaii;
Whereas the University of Hawaii Warrior Volleyball fans
are the best in the Nation, leading the country in attendance
for 7 consecutive seasons;
Whereas 3-time All-American junior outside hitter Costas
Theocharidis--
(1) was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player;
(2) was the 2001 American Volleyball Coaches Association
national Player of the Year; and
(3) holds a number of men's volleyball school records;
Whereas 2 University of Hawaii Warrior volleyball players,
junior outside hitter Costas Theocharidis and senior middle
blocker Dejan Miladinovic, were voted to the American
Volleyball Coaches Association All-American first team;
Whereas the Hawaii team is representative of Hawaii's
celebrated cultural diversity, with players from Hawaii, the
United States mainland, Guam, Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba,
Greece, Israel, and Serbia; and
Whereas all of the team's players showed tremendous
dedication throughout the season toward the goal of winning
the National Championship: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commends the University of Hawaii Warrior Men's
Volleyball Team for winning the 2002 NCAA Men's Volleyball
National Championship;
(2) recognizes the achievements of all the team's players,
coaches, and support staff, and invites them to the United
States Capitol to be honored;
(3) requests that the President--
(A) recognize the achievements of the University of Hawaii
men's volleyball team; and
(B) invite the team to the White House for an appropriate
ceremony honoring a national championship team; and
(4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to--
(A) make available enrolled copies of this resolution to
the University of Hawaii for appropriate display; and
(B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to every
coach and member of the 2002 NCAA Men's Volleyball National
Championship Team.
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