The new and improved P.E. Gym on the Utah Valley University campus opened to the volleyball and women’s basketball teams in November.
While the renovation was taking place earlier in the volleyball season, the team was displaced to the UCCU Center. The volleyball team played its first matches in program history in the UCCU center during the renovation and finished with a 6-5 record in the larger venue.
As part of the renovation, the arena was arranged to accommodate a capacity of roughly 1,500 fans. The change went from primary seating on one side of the gym, to symmetrical seating from the sidelines of the court to the back walls on both sides of the gym. A new court was also included in the renovation.
The volleyball team hosted Weber State in the opening of the P.E. Gym Nov. 1 and played to a 3-2 win.
“I love it,” said head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. “It’s great and it’s great to be home.”
With the volleyball schedule complete, the women’s basketball and wrestling teams are set to move into the P.E. Gym in the coming weeks. The women’s basketball team opened the new-look arena with a 109-39 exhibition win over Southern Virginia.
“I like it. We’ve always loved playing up there,” said head women’s basketball coach Cathy Nixon. “I think it’s an advantage to us having two home venues that are really, really nice places to play. I’m looking forward to playing in there.”
The size of the P.E. Gym has always provided an intimate environment for sports crowds. The renovation maintains the same environment while providing a greater capacity for fans.
The women’s basketball team plays Denver in its first regular season game in the P.E. Gym Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. The wrestling team will host Oregon State in its first home dual of the season Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Soooo…. what do we use the UCCU center for if Basketball games are being hosted in the PE?