McGuirk Arena has perks for CMU volleyball that Finch, Rose didn't
This weekend gave Central Michigan volleyball the chance to test out McGuirk Arena for the first time.
The team spent last season at Finch Fieldhouse and the first five weeks on the road this season. It was finally able to open up its new home in a regular season match.
“The lighting is amazing and it’s really tough for opponents to get used to it whereas it’s not existent to us,” said head coach Erik Olson. “You can see so well; everything is so crystal clear and it gives us an advantage.”
One of the biggest differences between the venues is the video board in McGuirk Arena. The video board gives Olson and his staff the chance to have updated statistics and make personal changes accordingly.
“As a coach, I find myself looking up to the scoreboard and thinking, yup we’re hitting .400,” Olson said. “I could also see that they (Kent State) were hitting .400 as well Saturday night, so we had to play better defense.”
McGuirk Arena puts the fans up close with steeper seating, which plays a big role because volleyball is known for being a rowdy and fan-influential sport.
“I thought our crowd did a great job," Olson said. "It felt like a bigger crowd and they were really into it. They played a big role I think.”
Only a select few have played in all three arenas on the team, one of which includes senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Schultz.
“I love the new arena," she said. "It’s a better atmosphere then Finch and Rose. I wasn’t happy with the lighting at first, but you get used to it and it really does help us.”
Coaches and players noticed the temperature difference in McGuirk Arena. Rose Arena was known for being hot and Finch Fieldhouse was small, also causing heat.
“Rose was very hot and nasty,” Schultz said.
Olson agrees with Schultz on the heat factor.
“Saturday night would have been really hot in Rose Arena,” Olson said. “McGuirk is comfortable in that aspect. I have only sweated maybe three times since Aug. 9, where I’d usually be sweating in the first 10 minutes.”
