The United States Senate has adopted a resolution offered by United States Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) commending the University of Hawai'i Warrior Volleyball Team for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Volleyball National Championship. The Senate passed the resolution, S. Res. 262, by unanimous consent. Senator Akaka's floor statement follows:

"Mr. President, I am pleased to join my distinguished colleague, the senior Senator from Hawaii [Mr. Inouye], in congratulating the University of Hawai'i 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 Hawai'i in over 30 years of NCAA Division I competition.

"Hawai'i 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 Hawai'i.

"Mr. President, sports fans in Hawaii love the men's and women's volleyball teams at the University of Hawai'i. Hawai'i 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 Hawai'i'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 Hawai'i's best prep players, men from Canada, the mainland U.S., Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Guam, are a part of the 2002 Hawai'i Warriors' championship 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 Hawai'i. Hawai'i 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 Hawai'i'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 Hawai'i and the people of Hawai'i in honoring the 2002 National Champion University of Hawai'i 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 included in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks. Congratulations to the Warrior players and Coach Mike Wilton and his staff for a wonderful and historic season. Hawai'i no ka oi!"

The text of S. Res. 262 follows:

107TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 262

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

RESOLUTION Commending the University of Hawaii Warrior Men's Volleyball Team for winning the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Volleyball National Championship.

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.