Volleyball adjusting to playing in new arena

By Lindsey Schoewe This upcoming season for the Troy volleyball team will be its first playing in Trojan Arena. The arena opened in the fall of 2012 when the men’s and women’s basketball teams began their respective seasons. Volleyball is making the transition from Sartain Hall to Trojan Arena for their 2013 season and  one main difference the arena has over Sartain Hall is the two 767 square foot video boards. Junior defensive specialist, Kelley Curran, said that the video boards add a whole other dimension to the game. “It is nice not having the scoreboard in the middle of the court like Sartain Hall did,” Curran said. The Trojans have been adjusting to the new facility and preparing themselves for this upcoming season. “It’s been wonderful, in Sartain, we only had one court, and had to share that court between three teams,” Troy head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said. “By having the practice gym, we have the ability to set up three nets if we needed to do that, and it gives us the opportunity to really break down the team into their position groups, and give individual attention to them all.” When asked about Trojan Arena, senior setter Alexandra Alexander only had positive things to say about it. “I am so over the top excited to play in the new arena with this being my last year,” Alexander said. The arena has over 5,000 seats to accommodate Troy fans for the 11 home matches this season not to mention Trojan Arena will be the location for the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Championship. The ancient Sartain Hall lacked the modern amenities, so volleyball is finally out with the old and in with the new with an improved locker room to a spacious practice gym. “I am really excited to see what the game day atmosphere will be like, because in Sartain Hall, it was always really loud especially when the band came,” Curran said. “I just hope we can get fans as excited as they were last year.” The Troy volleyball team will have an alumni game this Saturday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. in Trojan Arena.