GREENSBORO, September 18, 2012 - The North Carolina A&T volleyball team will be making historic Moore Gymnasium its new home in 2012. The Aggies first game in the remodeled facility will be Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m., versus Piedmont Triad rival High Point University. Admission to A&T volleyball matches is free. 

"We are elated to bring new life to Moore Gym.  Aggie Pride is all about tradition and we couldn't be more excited to be the team that will bring that tradition back to Moore Gym," said head coach Hal Clifton, who is in his second year at the helm of the program.  "The initial stage will provide us with a quality facility for our athletes to train and compete.  It rivals many other volleyball-dedicated facilities across the U.S."  

 In order to prepare for Division I volleyball in Moore Gymnasium, the court has been undergoing a face lift.  The floor in Moore Gymnasium has been fully renovated and repainted in order to be fully functional for the Aggies.

"We are thankful for the vision and support from Mr. Hilton and all of the people that came together for this project," Clifton said. "It is something that A&T can be very proud of."

The repainted floor will also have markings for multiple courts, which will enable the A&T volleyball team to utilize more than one court during practice and during tournaments.  That capability was not available to the team in Corbett Sports Center or Moore Gymnasium previously.   

"With a full roster we needed additional space to train," said Clifton. "In Corbett we only had one court. Now with the new paint scheme and floor sleeves we can train on three courts.  It allows us to maximize our touches and make our practices more efficient." 

The Aggies plan additional remodeling to help improve the space and make it a top volleyball facility.

Future stages include upgrading the locker room space, installing new seating, air conditioning and a sound system. Renovations also include installing a video board which will provide multiple uses for not just volleyball but A&T activities in general.

Moore Gymnasium should make playing volleyball difficult for opposing teams. Its estimated capacity is 1,200.

"The intimate atmosphere will give both the players and the fans a real connection and hopefully help provide a true home court advantage.  We want our fans to make a connection with the players and the team," said Clifton.