(Photo By Flickr User Falling Up Hill)
Sports News Line: Bloomington-Normal, IL (Twin Cities)
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met at its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington, IL on last week, where the Board voted to extend the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Final hosting contract at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena.
The hosting proposal was a joint effort between Illinois State University (ISU), the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Bloomington-Normal Sports Commission.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said,
“We enjoy a tremendous partnership with Illinois State University and the Bloomington-Normal area. We have worked together for many years to run first-class events at Redbird Arena, and believe the arena renovations should only enhance the experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
Redbird Arena recently underwent a $6.2 million dollar renovation that includes new seating in the arena’s lower bowl.
Redbird will host the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals for the 30th time this year in November. ISU hosted the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals at Horton Fieldhouse from 1976-1980, before the event returned indefinitely to ISU in 1990.
ISU Senior Associate Athletics Director/Internal Operations Peyton Deterding said,
“We are extremely excited to continue as the host for the IHSA Volleyball State Championships. Illinois State University and Illinois State Athletics values greatly the outstanding partnership with the IHSA, and there is no greater example than hosting Championships. We take great pride in hosting the athletes and spectators and feel this continues to be an opportunity to showcase the campus, the community of Bloomington/Normal and the newly renovated Redbird Arena for years to come.”
The contract extension will span five years, lasting through the 2024 state tournament. Redbird Arena has also served as the host of the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals since 1992. The city of Peoria also submitted a bid to host state volleyball at the Civic Center.
“We obviously enjoy a strong partnership with Peoria and the Civic Center and appreciate their interest,” said Anderson. “While we enjoy hosting a number of IHSA events in Peoria, we felt like state volleyball has found a home at ISU, and thus, there was no reason to make a change.
(Information Courtesy Of IHSA)
