Practice facility construction underway

With school officials’ Wednesday announcement that all University of Colorado athletics will join the Pac-12 next season, it is obvious that big changes are coming to CU athletics.

But no team will face more change this year than the Colorado volleyball team.

For sports like football, basketball, and soccer, Colorado will face similar competition in the Pac 12 that they saw from the Big 12.

This is not the case for the volleyball team, as their move to the Pac 12 means joining the best volleyball conference in the country. Since volleyball became an NCAA Division I sport in 1981, schools from the Pac 10 have won 13 titles.

“It’s going to be great [playing in the Pac 12], night after night battling with the best teams in the nation,” said CU volleyball player Rosie Steinhaus. “We’re excited and it’ll be a great chance to show what we’re made of.”

Colorado’s volleyball program isn’t exactly steeped in tradition. The Buffs have yet to win a Big 12 volleyball title, and their combined record the past four seasons is just 28-65.

But there is reason for optimism for Colorado volleyball.

A new practice facility is currently under construction outside of the Coors Events Center. Scheduled for completion in April 2011, the $10 million project will provide state-of –the-art training facilities to the volleyball and men’s and woman’s basketball teams beginning next season.

Having shared one court for practice and games at the Coors Events Center for over twenty years, the CU men’s and women’s basketball teams and the CU volleyball team are eager to have more practice time.

CU Volleyball Coach Liz Kritza said sharing the Coors Events Center three ways a “scheduling nightmare.”

“The practice facility will free up our athletes’ schedules and allow them to progress towards their degrees,” Kritza said.

The 43,000 square foot facility will provide two full sized basketball/volleyball courts, as well as new locker rooms for the women’s basketball team and the volleyball team.

The new facility is another example of Athletic Director Mike Bohn’s commitment to Colorado’s basketball and volleyball programs. In particular, Colorado men’s basketball seems like it’s heading in the right direction, even with new coach Tad Boyle at the helm this season.

With the Pac-12 looming, adding the new facility could be especially beneficial for the volleyball team, and not just because of practice time. “We’re recruiting against the top of the top for high level players,” Kritza said, “(the facility) will make us all more competitive.”

Coaches and officials are optimistic that the facility will be finished in time for practice this spring.