WILLIAMSBURG — When the fall sport student-athletes returned to campus over the weekend, they were welcomed back to a plethora of upgrades made throughout the UC athletic department over the summer. These upgrades include laying turf on the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex, laying Taraflex flooring in the UC Volleyball Gym, sodding the backstop at the UC Softball Complex, upgrading the Women’s Wrestling Armory as well as the Athletic Administration Office, and improved lighting in multiple areas.

“We are excited to see the continued commitment our administration has made to give our student-athletes the best facilities they can,” said Athletic Director Chris Kraftick. “These upgrades speak to the campus as whole which continues to improve.”

The two most noticeable changes are turf being laid down on the UC Lacrosse/Soccer Complex and the UC Volleyball Gym getting a new Taraflex floor. The new turf surface was completed last Friday in time for the start of the UC men and women’s soccer practices.

Both the soccer and lacrosse teams will call this complex home this season with its first game coming as a soccer doubleheader on Aug. 24. This field will also serve as host of the inaugural Mid-South Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championships on April 25-27, 2019.

“We are so excited to have our home field right next to our locker room again. We love the atmosphere here with the stands close to the field and can’t wait to begin our fall season on our new home field. We are so fortunate to be given the facilities and resources to be successful,” said head women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Buikus.

Men’s soccer coach Chris LeFevre added, “This is an awesome facility. We are thankful for the tremendous support that Cumberlands has given to our facilities.”

The UC Volleyball Gym has implemented a new Taraflex floor which features a gray court with navy border. Taraflex flooring is featured at several NCAA Division I programs such as Nebraska, Notre Dame and Georgia and is similar to the type of flooring used for Olympic Volleyball.

“The new flooring is a significantly better and we are excited to start competing,” said head volleyball coach Kathryn Hart. “It’s definitely one of the best courts in the NAIA.”

In addition to the two playing surfaces, the UC softball Complex, the women’s wrestling Armory and the athletic administration offices were also upgraded this summer. Additional drainage as well as a sodded backstop was added at the softball complex while the flooring and lighting were upgraded at the Armory. The athletic administration offices received a new layout complete with new flooring.

The Patriots will open their home schedule on Aug. 24 with a soccer doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. while the volleyball home opener will take place Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. against Asbury.

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