ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com)— UCF Volleyball opened the 2016 season with a brand new upgrade to their arena. A brand new Taraflex Sport M floor was installed at The Venue on Aug. 21.
Through its partnerships with IHF and FIVB, Gerflor supplied TARAFLEX® courts for handball and volleyball during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and has been present at the Summer Olympic Games since 1976.
The floor can also be found on 11 other Division I college campuses including Nebraska, Iowa, Marquette, LSU and Kentucky. UCF is the first school to have it in the American Athletic Conference.
"We are really excited about the new floor going in," said head coach Todd Dagenais. "I think it will provide some injury prevention with less floor burns and less overuse injuries. I also believe that players will be less apprehensive to go hard and dive on the new flooring."
The top layer of the surface is made specifically for volleyball to allow for easier movement as well as easier sliding. The flooring doesn't provide friction burns because it doesn't build up heat like a wood floor. It has a foam backing with helps with shock absorption leading to a softer landing.
"I love the new floor," said sophomore libero Jordan Pingel. "It's easier to dive on, it is gentler on our bodies. The attackers jump higher and its better on their knees."