It's Spring Training Time

For the past two weeks the FAU football team has been having spring training from six to seven am on the FAU track. They have been focusing on conditioning and position specific drills.

On some occasions the condition was so intense that over half the team has actually thrown-up after work out. It's done now, at least it was only two weeks. Other sports don't get the luxury of only having intense training for such a short amount of time. Other FAU sports start training at 5a.m. and do this for months.

Beach Becoming Official

Beach Volleyball may be becoming an official NCAA sport. This would be great for schools in the south because of the simple fact that they have the advantage of the weather and for those schools close to beaches, such as FAU, finding a facility won't be an issue.

"This is something we want to expand on," Gators coach Mary Wise said. "The NCAA is looking for viable team sports to help increase the number of women participating in college. We think NCAA beach volleyball is one of those sports."


This is going to be great for Florida Atlantic Volleyball, why? Because we already have the advantage of having so many beaches at our disposal. Other teams in the north will have to struggle to find facilities with beach courts.

The rules of the game have CHANGED...

The NCAA has changed the rules of the game for volleyball in a couple ways:

• Games will be played to 25, instead of 30

• Substitutions will go from 15 to 12

• Many hand calls will be eliminated
  

"The 25-point sets will add an intensity and excitement level to our matches that has been missing," Marcia Alterman of the Women's Volleyball Rules Committee said Thursday. "I believe that players, coaches and fans will agree that the critical nature of every point will emphasize the need for focus and consistency to every play."

Their reasoning behind the change is so that college play matches international play. So now people are really going to play dirty with all these changes that are going to change the intensity of the game, or now newly named "set" .

This great for Florida Atlantic Volleyball, why? Because we already have the advantage of having so many beaches at our disposal. Other teams in the north will have to struggle to find facilities with beach courts.

FAU Volleyball plays the BIG DAWGS!!!

This past weekend, FAU volleyball took on some other the counties top teams and held their own the entire time. They competeed against Wichita State University Schockers, The University of Miami Hurricanes and the #3 seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The FAU Volleyball, although slightly intimidated, dove in playing with a purpose. The girls didn't let Nebraska's Status get in the way of their playing. During game play, although the girls fell to the Cornhuskers they never lost by more then 6 points (19-25, 27-29, 23-25, 12-15)which says a lot for a team who season record was 6-23 playing against a top five team. The Cornhuskers used their trip to Florida Atlantic as their Spring Break.

"This gives us a lot of confidence going into the rest of the spring and it should carry over to the fall. We played with one of the strongest teams in the country and represented ourselves well," said Katie Arvidson, who is one of FAUs co-captains.

You Thought It Was Over, NOT!!!

No, the renovations for the FAU Arena aka "The Burrow" are far from over. The $10 Million dollar renovation of the arena began in March of 2007. It now features refurbished locker rooms, lobby, and scoreboard, which feature a high definition monitor. There is also chair back seating on the west side of the Arena, and an enhanced exterior look to the Arena.

The arena is still under renovation, unfortunately after the interior work to the arenas hardwood floor was completed, the paint job was damaged and some areas of the floor where noticeably unstable. So, once again, starting in the summer of 2008 the area will be closed down due to interior renovation. Not only will the floors be repaired but the east side of the arena is said to receive chair back seating as well as the addition of sky boxes for, elite ticket holders, on the second floor balcony.

SPORTS DAY

SAAC is going to be holding its annual Sports Day for the kids of Boca Raton. This day is a great opportunity for kids to be around collegiate athletes. Although the location and date are unknown at the moment,what is for sure is that the kids are going to have fun.

They will be competing all day in kickball, baseball, flag football, soccer, obstacle courses, relay races and all types of other events.

Bukovich Squared

Hey did you know that there are siblings who play the same sport here at FAU, but not exactly.

Softball player, Amy Bukovich is second base(wo)man, third baseman and at times short stop who is a local player. She attended Olympic Heights High School right in Boca Raton and is currently a Junior here at FAU.

She's not the only Bukovich making a name for herself her at FAU, she has a brother who plays baseball. Sean Bukovich is a Freshman who and hasn't exactly gotten a chance to get his feet wet yet. But, there is no doubt that he will be able to live up to the Bukovich name. The only difference is that they attend different High schools, Sean went to West Boca Raton High School but, they are both infielders.

Dodge and Relay for Cancer

It's almost that time for everyone to come out and help show their support for those who have been affected by cancer. Relay for life is holding their event April 11 thru 12 at Henderson field. One thing that has just been added to the event is a dodgeball tournament. This 18 hour event will not only involve walking around a track to signify that cancer never stops but this dodgeball tournament will also incorporate a little fun.

The dodgeball tournament is scheduled to start at around 10 p.m. and the even itself will end around 8 a.m.

When the sun goes down, hundreds of luminaria light the way under the stars to remember those lost to cancer,those figghting cancer and those who have fought cancerr and won. The ceremony of light symbolizes the hope and preservance with whic we all continue to fight.