Volleyball Programs Unveil State-of-the-Art Playing Surface

MUNCIE, Ind. - - This summer has brought a wave of refurbishments to Worthen Arena, headlined by the installation of new seatbacks in the lower bowl. On Friday, the indoor home of the Cardinals received yet another enhancement on the cusp of the fall sports season.

The Ball State volleyball community — a contingent comprising the men's and women's volleyball squads and several of the court's main benefactors — attended a morning ceremony to unveil the Cardinals' new Taraflex playing surface. Both teams rushed the sharply designed floor, eager to get a feel for their new home court.

"I think it says a lot," said Megan Wielonski, a senior setter on the women's volleyball team. "It's really insane we were able to get this. It just shows the direction our program is headed for on both the men's and women's side, and this shows the love this department has for volleyball."

The Taraflex surface has become increasingly widespread among the highest levels of collegiate volleyball, and it is recognized for its shock-absorption technology and injury prevention. Aaron Hernandez, men's volleyball's senior opposite hitter, noted the benefits that a softer surface will provide for him and his teammates.

"There's sometimes when you play on this hard court, and when we're done with practice, you're covered with bruises on your knees, hips, everything," Hernandez said. "So, this is going to be a lot better for our bodies. It will also help speed up recovery, which is great."

Beyond the physical gains the new surface yields for Ball State's volleyball programs, head coaches Donan Cruz and Kelli Miller Phillips commented on the national attention the court will bring to Muncie. Most notably, the installation of the Taraflex now makes the women's program eligible to host the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

"It is going to be a total volleyball environment," said Phillips, the women's head coach. "When you walk in here, this is a volleyball environment, and that is something that myself and Donan have been pushing for."

Friday's ceremony marked the end point of a logistical process that spanned months of planning, fundraising and preparation. Cruz underscored the appreciation for the collective support from the entire Ball State athletics community.

"When an administration is willing to have this court in the arena, you know they are invested in what that means in terms of the logistics of it on a daily basis," Cruz said. "For us, getting that approved by Jeff Mitchell and all of our admin team was pretty significant."

The freshly introduced surface will see its first use Saturday, Aug. 24, when the Ball State women's volleyball squad hosts Indiana State in a 2 p.m. exhibition showdown.

Volleyball Programs Unveil State-of-the-Art Playing Surface

Players Mentioned

Aaron Hernandez

Megan Wielonski

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