As a past player for the Washington State volleyball team, Nicole Rigoni knows well the home-court advantage Bohler Gym provides for the Cougars. 

When she returned to Pullman to provide analysis for the Pac-12 Network broadcast of the No. 5 ranked Cougars' match against No. 3 Stanford, Oct. 8, Rigoni soon realized the advantage she enjoyed as a player was multiplied. 

"As many games as I've broadcast around the country there isn't an arena that can replicate Bohler Gym the way it was," Rigoni, who played for the Cougars in 2016 and 2017, said. "Now it's even better with that Block section and the Taraflex floor.

"You feel the energy inside the gym," she added.

That energy has propelled the program to an unprecedented run of seven-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and is on track for an eighth in 2023. From 2016 to 2022, the Cougars have won 70 percent of their matches at Bohler, and during the past three seasons, including 2023, the program has won nearly 80 percent of its matches at Bohler.

"It speaks to the importance facilities have for the program," Head Coach Jen Greeny said inside her Bohler Gym office. "For our program, facilities and facility upgrades are our No. 1 priority."

During the offseason, Bohler Gym, one of the few volleyball-only facilities in the country, underwent an extensive renovation with the addition of a Taraflex floor and additional bleachers at the west end of the court devoted exclusively for students, which was named "The Block."

The Block

"Typically, we have a good home-court advantage but this year, with the addition of The Block, we really didn't know what a huge impact that would have," Greeny said. "It's been really fun to see that extra student section."

Greeny and her staff saw first-hand the effects an end-of-the-court student section can have on the opposition during their travels as a visiting team.

"We understood, as the opponent, how difficult it was," Greeny said. 

Installed during the past summer, it didn't take long for Greeny to witness the difference the renovations made during the Cougars' first marquee match of the season at Bohler, against No. 8 BYU, Sept. 8.

"It was full, and it was loud," Greeny recalled of the atmosphere at Bohler during the BYU match, which the Cougars won in four sets. "Seeing the students right behind the servers. The entire coaching staff thought this was pretty cool."

The electric environment did not go unnoticed by the players, too.

"I was thinking how loud it was in here," middle blocker and fifth-year senior Magda Jehlárová said.

"The addition of The Block is beautiful," Jehlárová added. "It puts a lot of pressure on the visiting team, especially while serving."

The difficulties for opponents serving are reflected in the stats, as the opponent's service errors have increased in the new configuration.

"It makes it really tough on the opponents to serve and stay focused," Rigoni said.



Serving is not the only aspect of the game that is tough for the opposition in Bohler.

"When the fans are on top of you, you are even more distracted and you have to have more ball control," Rigoni explained. "You can't hear each other.  You can't be spraying passes. You can hardly run into the stands. It makes it so tough on the opponents."

Taraflex floor

In addition to "The Block" section, Bohler features a new Taraflex floor.

"That Taraflex floor is going to help with injuries," Rigoni said. "It is softer and has more cushion and really awesome for the student-athletes."

"We asked the team if they could have one upgrade what would it, and they unanimously said a Taraflex floor," Greeny said.

The benefits of the new floor are already noticeable for Greeny and the players.

"It gives and has a softer feel," Greeny explained. "The wear and tear on your body is so much better and will mean healthier players down the stretch of the season. Even standing on the court as a coach you can tell the difference."

"It feels so much better to play on, there are definite health benefits," Jehlárová said. "Jumping and landing feels so much better on your joints, knees, and ankles."

Donor support

The addition of "The Block" and Taraflex floor were made possible by donor support, led by a donation from Jeff and Erika Barrom. 

"There is no way we could have done this without them. We can't thank them enough." Greeny said of the Barroms.

"And that goes for all of our donors," Greeny added. "Our donors are critical for the success of our program and, in this day and age, there's not much we're doing without donor support."

Greeny, in her 13th season at the helm of the program, has been a significant part of the esteemed history of the program beyond her head coaching tenure. She has made a total of 13 postseason trips for WSU, having played for the Cougars in the NCAA Tournament (1995-97) before returning as an assistant coach for WSU's postseason runs in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as well.

"Our priority is taking care of the program for years to come," Greeny said. "Because I've been here for a long time, I have a sense of responsibility for the program."

She explains there are many upgrades that still need to be done with Bohler, including to the locker room and film room, as well as an addition of a ring of honor to recognize players responsible for leading the program to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances in its history.

"We have so many great volleyball players who have come through this program and they deserve that recognition," Greeny said.

A true advantage

The advantage Bohler Gym has for the program is felt beyond the decibels level in the arena.

It's on the scoreboard, too.

"When it's loud and rocking, at least 2-3 points for a set," Greeny said of how much of a point value Bohler Gym provides. "That's a huge advantage."

Rigoni echoes Greeny's sentiment.

"You want to get that first set under your belt so you can relax and play freer, and in the first set it can be four points," Rigoni said.  "In a match it could mean as much as 20 points. 

"The home-court advantage Washington State volleyball has is unlike anything in the country and it's so much harder on the opponent when Bohler Gym is packed. The fans in Bohler Gym are what makes it special."