Senate Resolution 53

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE VANCLEAVE HIGH SCHOOL "LADY BULLDOGS" GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH HEATHER ALLEN FOR WINNING THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MHSAA CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, the streak continues for Vancleave High School Girls Volleyball. The "Lady Bulldogs" trailed 2-0 heading to the third set and rallied to defeat Lafayette High School in five sets 3-2 (25-27, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-5) to claim the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A State Volleyball Championship on October 23, 2021; and

WHEREAS, it is Vancleave's (21-17) fifth straight State Championship in volleyball and fifth Overall in school history. The Lady Bulldogs won the Class 4A State Title four years in a row before moving up to 5A in 2021; and

WHEREAS, "I told the girls that they had to believe in themselves and that we could finish it. We've been down 2-0 before and came back. The girls had to come together and fight together as a team and they've grown to do just that this year,"

said first-year Vancleave High School Girls Volleyball Team Head Coach Heather Allen. In the first set, the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to 8-2 and midway through was up 16-10, but Lafayette rallied to take the opening set of the match 27-25. In the second set, the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Commodores were tied 16-16 and Lafayette ended the set on a 9-3 run to take the set 25-19 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. To begin the third set, Vancleave took a 14-10 lead and held on from there as they took the set 25-22 to cut the Lafayette match lead to 2-1; and

WHEREAS, the fourth set was back and forth. Vancleave was up 17-15 midway through, but Lafayette High School rallied to take a 21-19 lead before the Lady Bulldogs called timeout. After the timeout, Vancleave went on a 6-1 run to close out the set 25-22 and tie the match up 2-2. The fifth set was all Vancleave, as the Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead and increased the lead 9-2. Sydney Cason scored 10 straight points for Vancleave at the beginning of the fourth set and, the beginning of the fifth set. Lyndi Bakker was the game's "Most Valuable Player" for the Vancleave Lady Bulldogs; and

WHEREAS, the 2021 Lady Bulldogs Championship Roster: Lyndi Bakker, Corrine Cason, Sadie Dowdy, Maison Evans, Aubree Hunter, Anna Parker, Alex Pickich, Lindsay Randall, Bernadette Schroeder, Aubree Seymour, Brie Seymour, Skylar Stork, Mercedes Seymour and Sydeny Carson; and Head Coach Heather Allen and Assistant Coach Ernie Surber; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this group of student athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate The Vancleave High School "Lady Bulldogs" Girls Volleyball Team and Head Coach Heather Allen for winning their fifth consecutive MHSAA Class 5A State Championship and extend our best wishes to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors for future athletic and academic success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Head Coach Heather Allen and Vancleave High School Principal Raina Holmes for the team, forwarded to the Jackson County Board of Education and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.