Thursday, March 28, 2024

Jenison Field House receives about $500,000 in upgrades

September 12, 2011
Sophomore setter Kristen Kelsay sets the ball for freshman middle blocker Jazmine White on Saturday during the Spartans' game against the Vikings. The Spartans came on top with the final score of 3-0. Mo Hnatiuk/The State News
Sophomore setter Kristen Kelsay sets the ball for freshman middle blocker Jazmine White on Saturday during the Spartans' game against the Vikings. The Spartans came on top with the final score of 3-0. Mo Hnatiuk/The State News —
Photo by Mo Hnatiuk | and Mo Hnatiuk The State News

The MSU volleyball team has two things to like about the beginning of this season.

The Spartans are off to an 8-1 start, including only three dropped sets, all in a loss to Bowling Green.

But they also have a refurbished venue to come home to at Jenison Field House.

The renovations — about $500,000 worth of improvements — were funded by a donation by Bob Skandalaris, who is an alumnus and frequent donor to MSU. The renovations include new paint jobs, new bleacher and chair-back seating, scoreboards and a video board, Deputy Athletics Director Greg Ianni said.

The athletics department moved forward with the project after seeing that one of its venues was in sad shape compared to facilities in the rest of the conference.

“We had the worst volleyball venue in the conference,” Ianni said. “We piggybacked the video board with the project we’re doing at Breslin (Center), and we just were able to bring our venue up to a point where it’s one of the best in the conference.”

The improvements immediately were noticed by the volleyball team, and it will return to Jenison for the second time this season this weekend with the Spartan Invitational.

“The improvements are spectacular,” volleyball head coach Cathy George said at a press conference last Tuesday. “I know the team really appreciated being in there.”

Earlier this month, the team swept the Spartan Showcase at Jenison with wins against St. John’s, Cleveland State and Toledo.

Prior to the showcase, senior Carli Weiler said she and her teammates were happy with the improvements and the prospects it could bring.

“I’m sure a lot of people are excited to see (the improvements) and the new team,” Weiler said. “Everything’s just really exciting.”

Ianni is confident the venue will help elevate the team’s play, the program and help bring out fans for gymnastics and wrestling, both of which also compete at Jenison Field House.

“It should make it a whole lot more fun to come watch our teams play and make our program and coaches improve considerably,” he said.

Staff reporter Jesse O’Brien contributed to this story.

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