TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE POWDERSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2018 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Powdersville High volleyball team of Anderson County took top honors at the state tournament held at White Knoll High School in Lexington on Saturday, November 10, 2018; and

Whereas, to the absolute delight of their exuberant fans, the Powdersville Patriots defeated a highly competitive Bishop England High School, a school which had garnered the national honor of the most consecutive state championships, eighteen back to back, and the Patriots started their own winning streak with the team's first state championship in school history; and

Whereas, Powdersville won the best-three-of-five match in only four games of 25-19, 25-21, 18-25, and 25-15 against Bishop England's Battling Bishops in a contest reminiscent of the 2017 final match, in which the Lady Patriots took a 2-0 lead before the Lady Bishops came back to win three straight sets for the title; and

Whereas, after Powdersville repeated the 2017 2-0 lead over Bishop England, the Lady Patriots repeated their 2017 loss of the third game, but when Head Coach Brooke Passini let the team's five seniors with a refuse-to-lose attitude take over, the die was cast; and

Whereas, in the championship match, sophomore Olivia Knutson posted ten kills for the Lady Patriots who finished their season with a 26-4 record; and

Whereas, in a sport that demands precision, strength, and speed, Coach Passini and her skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and training to hone a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the court; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives value the pride and recognition that the Powdersville volleyball players have brought to their school and their community and look to hear of their future accomplishments in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Powdersville High School varsity volleyball team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate them for winning the 2018 South Carolina Class AAA State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Dr. Chris Ferguson and Coach Brooke Passini.