A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE CARDINAL NEWMAN SCHOOL VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2022 SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 4a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Cardinal Newman volleyball team of Richland County took another South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) state title from the state competition held at the Carolina Volleyball Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina on Tuesday, October 25, 2022; and

Whereas, to the cheers of their boisterous fans, the Cardinals defeated the competitive Porter-Gaud School Cyclones in three sets, 25-11, 25-15, and 25-13, and wrested the title back from the Cyclones who had defeated the Cardinals for the 2021 title. The Cardinals finished the season with an impressive 47-9-2 record; and

Whereas, the two teams have met for the last four years to determine the state champions, and Cardinal Newman took the team's second title in three years. The last two match-ups lasted five sets, each providing a nail-biting finish, but this year, each of three sets proved decisive for the Cardinals; and

Whereas, although the Cyclones started each of the sets strong and even held brief leads in all three sets, Cardinal Newman dominated the final scores with imposing runs in each set. In the first set the teams tied five times, but a fourteen-point run by the Cardinals put them ahead 18-6. The Cyclones rallied to close the lead to 18-9, but the Cardinals took a 7-2 run to win the set 25-11; and

Whereas, Porter-Gaud had a 4-2 lead early in the second set, but the Cardinals scored ten of the next fourteen points for a 12-8 lead. The teams traded points until the Cardinals posted a 9-1 run for a 21-9 score. In spite of a brief challenge from the Cyclones, the Cardinals finished the set 25-15; and

Whereas, in the third set, Porter-Gaud led 5-3, and in the first nineteen points, the two teams shared six ties until the Cardinals put up a 15-4 run to finish with a 25-13 victory in the final set and to win the championship. Junior Christina Greene contributed fifteen kills, a block, and an assist, while classmate Senior Erin Allert, a Cardinal volleyballer since the seventh grade, added eleven kills, four assists, and three blocks. Senior Anna Logan Gillens, committed to play for Delaware, posted fourteen kills; and

Whereas, Victoria Harris, a junior back-row defensive specialist known as a libero, is already committed to the University of South Carolina and was named the 2021 SCISA Region 1 Player of the Year. Anna Logan Gillens was named SCISA Region 1 Player of the Year in 2020 and 2022. Erin Allert has committed to the United States Military Academy; and

Whereas, a former volleyball coach from Guam, Head Coach Cynthia Dimapan grew up in a volleyball family with her father a longtime volleyball coach. Coach Dimapan played for the John F. Kennedy High School Islanders in Guam and for the ISA Volleyball Club; and

Whereas, in a sport that demands strength, agility, skill, and speed, Coach Dimapan and her talented coaching staff capitalized on their own athletic experience and passion to hone a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the courts; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the pride and recognition that the Cardinal Newman volleyball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to hearing 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 Cardinal Newman School varsity volleyball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2022 South Carolina Independent School Association Class 4A State Championship title.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Kelly Burke and Coach Cynthia Dimapan.

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