VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota unveiled a new Taraflex floor by Gerflor on Friday evening inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center (SCSC). The Coyotes broke in the new floor earlier today on their first day of practice with the donors getting the first look at the new playing surface.
 
The new Taraflex floor features a SD Paw logo in the middle, with the Sanford Coyote Sports Center text on both sides of the design. Additionally, the court features the name First Bank & Trust Court. The floor itself is a Taraflex Sport M Plus floor by Gerflor.
 
"This is a huge step for our program," noted head volleyball coach Leanne Williamson. "And I think it just goes to show the amount of support that we have, not only in the past, but has that we have now and as I feel like we're going to continue to have moving forward."
 
The new playing surface is a state-of-the-art playing surface for volleyball competition by providing elevated performance, durability, and safety. With its unmatched durability and enhanced shock absorption properties, the Taraflex floor is designed to optimize player performance while minimizing the risk of injury, ensuring that athletes can confidently compete at the highest level.
 
"This program has come a long way and I think TeraFlex is just that next step for our program," commented Williamson. "So, you know, going all the way back to the beginning of Unite for USD (fundraising campaign), we knew that this was something that we were working towards."
 
South Dakota becomes the third school in the Summit League to utilize a Taraflex floor.
 
"To be able to get that fundraising done in one year and to see it down already in the fall is just an absolutely incredible feeling," concluded Williamson. "Our players are excited; you can see it on their faces and that just makes everything worth it for us."
 
The Coyotes will open the season on the new playing surface inside the SCSC at the South Dakota Classic. The first match on the new surface will feature UTEP and Iowa State at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Yotes against Montana State at 7:00 p.m.