A house RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Pickens High School volleyball TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Pickens volleyball team captured the state title at the state tournament held at Dreher High School in Columbia on Saturday, November 16, 2024; and

 

Whereas, to say that the Pickens High volleyball is a dynasty in the Upstate and even the State is no exaggeration. In 2024, the team garnered the program's seventeenth state title and except for 2010 and 2011, the Pickens Blue Flame have been to the state quarterfinals every year since 1986; and

 

Whereas, to the roar of their exuberant fans, the Pickens Blue Flame defeated a competitive Lower State champions May River High School in 3-1 sets of 25-21, 15-25, 28-26, and 25-12; and

 

Whereas, after a close but clear win over the May River Sharks in game 1, the Pickens volleyballers and their fans watched stunned as the Sharks took game 2, 25-15. The Blue Flame stayed behind the entirety of game 3 until, down by 5 points at 24-19 and facing set point, Pickens rose to the challenge; and

 

Whereas, the team answered by getting the volleyball to Pickens' All-State outside hitter Kaylon Chapman who rallied the team to a 24-24 tie with four kills. The Sharks took two more set points, both of which the Blue Flame answered.  Pickens took its first lead of the game at 27-26 with a block by freshman Charlee Abercrombie; and

 

Whereas, senior Ashlyn Knight saved another tie by diving with a one-hand dig, and Lily Clarkson assisted with a kill that stunned the Sharks. Pickens won the set 28-26 giving the Blue Flame a 2-1 lead in the state title match. The energy expended in the third set seemed to have demoralized the Sharks, while the Blue Flame looked invigorated after the third-set win as they swept the fourth game 25-12 capping a 3-1 victory in the state competition; and

 

Whereas, Allison Hendricks and Khloe Morrow assisted the team by constantly diving for digs. Lexi Catlin and Kaci Gillespie knew how to handle the set ups from teammates with well-place kills, and freshman Kentlea Davis also became a constant threat to the Sharks at the net; and

 

Whereas, all of this was accomplished as the Blue Flame lost five seniors to graduation at the end of last year and an All-State player to transfer. The season began with injuries that took players out, but with a strong quality of family devotion, the squad adjusted; and

 

Whereas, in a sport that requires strength, agility, and speed, Head Coach Mellie Crumpton, herself a two-time state champion as a player for the Blue Flame, and her skilled coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and passion to forge a championship-caliber team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the courts; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the Pickens volleyball players have brought to their school and their community, and the members look forward to following their continued achievements 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 Pickens High School volleyball team, coaches, and school officials for an extraordinary season and congratulate them for winning the 2024 South Carolina Class AAAA State Championship title.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Lauren Corn and Coach Mellie Crumpton.

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