Dowagiac volleyball to debut new gym tonight

Published 9:52 am Thursday, October 25, 2018

DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac volleyball team will wrap up the regular season with a non-conference match against visiting Coloma tonight.

The Chieftains will play their only match of the season in the new gymnasium at Dowagiac Union High School.

Construction is ongoing at the school, as well as around the gym, but according to Dowagiac Athletic Director Brent Nate everything is a go for tonight.

“It is exciting,” he said Wednesday morning. “It has been a long time coming so to speak. It is not 100 percent ready to go, but we have been practicing in it for a few weeks, but there are a few minor details that still needed to be worked out. The kids are excited about it.”

The new gym, which features four locker rooms — two each for boys and girls teams — is slightly larger than the older Union High gymnasium.

That gym will eventually be used as an additional practice area for teams.

“The community is excited about it,” Nate said. “It was much needed. The new floor is beautiful, the lighting is excellent. The entire area down there is beautiful.”

Fans will notice a ticket booth just inside the doors and a new and improved concessions area inside the next set of doors.

There is also a large Dowagiac logo on the floor in front of the concession area, as well as at half-court of the new gym.

New scoreboards feature players’ names with points and fouls.

The varsity match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Parking is available in front and along side the new gymnasium, as well as in front of the high school and the far parking lot on the east side of the school.