University of Hawaii Men's Volleyball Team

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, on Monday, the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team won the national championship, prevailing over the University of California at Irvine in a four-set thriller. Every player played his part, and the win caps off one of the most successful seasons in the team's history. It also marks the third NCAA championship in men's volleyball.

As head coach Charlie Wade said after the game, ``Volleyball is a big deal in our community, it just is.'' For many at home, volleyball is life. If you didn't grow up playing the sport yourself, you had a cousin or a friend or an auntie or an uncle who did. And every person in Hawaii--and I mean everybody--has been to a middle school or high school or college volleyball game.

That kind of love for this sport is what has made UH a volleyball powerhouse, and it is why we continue to attract and produce some of the best players in the world. Monday's win wasn't just for the incredible athletes on the court. It was a win for the coaches, the staff, the family, the friends, and the fans who supported them along the way. And it was a win for the entire State of Hawaii. This victory belongs to Hawaii.

So congratulations to the `Bows on their well-deserved victory. We are all so proud of you. Aloha.

Now, I would like to yield the floor to my great partner representing Hawaii in the U.S. Senate, Senator Hirono.

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