Just 14 short months have passed since the College of Central Florida's District Board of Trustees gave final approval to create the CF Patriots women's volleyball program, adding an exciting and locally popular sport to CF's existing baseball, softball and men's and women's basketball teams. Since then, director of athletics Bob Zelinski, his athletics staff and countless other CF staff members, students and supporters have worked tirelessly to give the program the proper launch it deserves.
Tonight, those efforts are rewarded as the Patriots take to their home court for the first time in a gym that has undergone extensive renovations and upgrades, from the logo at center court to the new rows of seats surrounding it. And if early returns are to be believed, head coach Flavia Siqueira has assembled a team that will immediately join its Patriot counterparts as a model NJCAA program and an annual contender for postseason berths and championships.
See for yourself tonight as state rival Polk State tests CF's undefeated record. A ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 6 pm; the match follows at 7. CF students and staff are offered free admission, as are local youth, club and high school volleyball players wearing their official team jersey. Children and seniors pay $2, adults pay $3.
The countdown timer at the top of www.cfpatriots.com is approaching zero. When it expires, a new era of CF Patriots athletics will have arrived.
