Bill Text: VA HR259 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Richard Bland College of William & Mary's women's volleyball team.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-01-23 - Bill text as passed House (HR259ER) [HR259 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HR259-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Richard Bland College of William & Mary's women's volleyball team won the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship on November 19, 2022, at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and
WHEREAS, in the first title game appearance in program history, the Richard Bland College Statesmen defeated the Scottsdale Community College Artichokes in a gripping five-set match with the scores of 26–24, 25–23, 22–25, 19–25, and 16–14; and
WHEREAS, after winning the first two sets and dropping the third and fourth sets, the Richard Bland Statesmen went toe-to-toe with the Scottsdale Artichokes in the final set; facing elimination with the score at 14–13 in Scottdale's favor, the Statesmen rallied three points to seal the win; and
WHEREAS, the Richard Bland Statesmen's victory was a total team effort, led by standout performances from Karagyn Durco, who had 62 assists and 17 digs; Sarah Heath, Leilani Goggin, and Hailey Hopkins, with 17, 16, and 15 kills, respectively; and Silaulauinasimativa Aoelua, who notched 19 digs and four service aces; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of their accomplishments, Karagyn Durco was named tournament Most Valuable Player, Leilani Goggin and Hailey Hopkins earned All-Tournament honors, and Stephanie Champine was named Coach of the Tournament; and
WHEREAS, along with securing the program's first championship title, the Richard Bland Statesmen finished the season with an impressive 34–3 record, a remarkable start for head coaches Stephanie Champine and Shaun Dryden, who were in their first season with the program; and
WHEREAS, the success of the Richard Bland Statesmen is the result of the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes, the leadership and guidance of their coaches and professors, and the unwavering support of their families and the entire Richard Bland College community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Richard Bland College of William & Mary's women's volleyball team hereby be commended for winning the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Stephanie Champine and Shaun Dryden, head coaches of the Richard Bland College of William & Mary's women's volleyball team, as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the team's achievement.
