Sen. Casey Congratulates Penn State Women’s Volleyball Team on 4th NCAA Championship

WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today (Dec. 20) congratulated the Penn State Women’s volleyball team on their record-setting fourth consecutive NCAA championship.

“The hard work and dedication of these young women is exemplary,” said Senator Casey. “I congratulate them, their coaches and the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the Pennsylvania State University on a record-setting season.”

The full text of Senator Casey’s remarks for the congressional record is below:

Senator Robert P. Casey
Remarks on the Penn State Women’s Volleyball Team
“I rise today to congratulate the Pennsylvania State University’s women’s volleyball team on their fourth consecutive NCAA championship.  With its December 18, 2010, sweep of the University of California, the Nittany Lions became the only team in Division I women’s volleyball history to win four consecutive national titles.  Prior to this streak, no NCAA women’s volleyball team had ever won consecutive national championships.

“The team was led by Head Coach Russ Rose.  Coach Rose has coached the Nittany Lions for the last 32 years.  He coached Penn State to an NCAA championship in 1999 and together with the recent four consecutive championships, his five NCAA titles are more than any other coach in Division I volleyball history.  Coach Rose was aided by assistant coaches Dennis Hohenshelt and Kaleena Davidson, as well as Director of Volleyball Operations Adam Hughes.

“The team members have also distinguished themselves individually.  Freshman Deja McClendon was named by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as the national freshman of the year.  Her performance during the championship tournament led to her being named the Most Outstanding Player of the final four.  Senior Blair Brown became the sixth straight Nittany Lion to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year.  She was also recently named as a finalist for the 2010-11 Honda Sports Award.  The award is given to the top female collegiate athlete in the sport.  Brown, along with fellow seniors Arielle Wilson and Alyssa D’Errico were members of each of the four national championship teams and have won 24 consecutive tournaments together.

“Members of the 2010 championship team include: Ariel Scott, Katie Kabbes, Fatima Balza, Jessica Ullrich, Kristin Carpenter, Maddie Martin, Arielle Wilson, Erica Denney, Blair Brown, Darcy Dorton, Alyssa D’Errico, Megan Shifflett, Cathy Quilico, Maggie Harding, Katie Slay, Deja McClendon, Krosby Pabst, Mikinzie Moydell and Ali Longo.

“The hard work and dedication of these young women is exemplary.  I congratulate them, their coaches and the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the Pennsylvania State University on a record-setting season.”