Cincinnati, Ohio – April 3, 2017 - The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball and volleyball squads will play their 2017-18 campaign at Saint Ursula Academy’s Gymnasium & Convocation Center, SUA Athletic Director Mike Sipes announced.
The Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium and Convocation Center will be home to the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Women’s Volleyball and Basketball teams for the 2017-2018 campaign. Saint Ursula and UC have worked out an agreement that will allow the UC women to practice and host games in SUA’s beautiful gym and training facility while UC’s Fifth Third Arena is under renovation.
Saint Ursula and UC crafted the partnership to offer a temporary home to its neighbors at UC, creating as little impact as possible on Saint Ursula Academy’s own volleyball and basketball teams.
The offsite schedule is due to the ongoing $87-million renovation of Fifth Third Arena. Construction started several weeks ago and the project is scheduled to conclude in October 2018.
“We have a gem of a facility at Saint Ursula Academy in our own neighborhood,” UC Director of Athletics Mike Bohn said. “The close location is a great convenience for fans and supporters of our women’s basketball and volleyball programs and it’s going to be a tough place to play for our opponents next season when the stands are packed with Bearcats fans.”
The volleyball team will play on a UC branded volleyball-specific surface in 2017 which will continue when it returns to Fifth Third Arena in 2018.
The Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center opened in 2003 and is just under two miles from Fifth Third Arena.
"The facility being down the street from campus and the quality of the venue are huge benefits to our programs,” Bohn said. “They have given us the ability to maintain a normal schedule for both sports and playing at one true home site will be minimally disruptive to our student-athletes' experience."
"We appreciate being welcomed into our new facility for both women's basketball and volleyball next season,” Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jamelle Elliott said. “Home is where the heart is and we look forward to playing with lots of heart in front of our supporters there next season."
“I am so thankful we have found a home for our volleyball team this season,” UC Volleyball head Coach Molly Alvey said. “Our new arena being built on campus is going to be phenomenal. We cannot wait to be representing UC once it is completed. In the meantime, we will be joining forces with our great community and will continue to compete at the highest level of volleyball.”
SAINT URSULA ACADEMY GYMNASIUM & CONVOCATION CENTER
Address: 1310 E. McMillan Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
The Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center was built in 2003 and will play host to the Bearcats volleyball and women’s basketball squads during the 2017-18 campaign. The 35,000-square foot facility meets NCAA specs and includes a full range of athletic facilities including three basketball courts, four volleyball courts, eight badminton courts, a running track, coaches’ offices, locker rooms, training room, meeting rooms, and associated support areas.
Saint Ursula’s gym is located 1.7 miles east of UC’s campus on McMillan St. with ample parking surrounding the facility. The Experience UC program will remain in effect for the 2017-18 year for Olympic sports, enabling Bearcats fans of all ages to enjoy free admission to women’s basketball and volleyball contests.