Angela Seman, the girls’ volleyball coach at Pine-Richland, patiently awaited the completion of the team’s newly renovated gym, hearing assurances that it would be worth the wait. During the construction phase, the Rams played their matches on the road and in an auxiliary gym. Finally, on October 17, they officially played their first match in the newly renovated gym, followed by a grand opening celebration on October 19 against North Allegheny.
Coach Seman expressed her delight with the new facility, emphasizing its excellent design for volleyball. The gym’s setup, with the crowd surrounding the court, creates an interactive atmosphere, allowing the team to engage with the energy of the spectators. Seman acknowledged the school district’s commitment, stating, “It’s good knowing in the coming years that we have a great facility to train in and a gym that is made for us to be successful in our sport.”
The renovated gym features seating on all four sides, and the entire facility has been rotated 90 degrees. Notable additions include a large video board on the right side and freshly painted Ram logos on green and white walls. The gym will serve as the home for both boys and girls basketball teams, as well as the boys and girls volleyball teams.
Pine-Richland superintendent Brian Miller, addressing the crowd before a ribbon-cutting ceremony, mentioned that the vision for the renovation began in 2016 with an athletics facilities study. The goal was to accommodate the entire student body with 1,520 seats. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included school board members, facilities managers, athletic director Joe Gironda, and representatives from Eckles Construction Services, the company leading the construction project.
The four seniors from the Rams girls’ volleyball team had the honor of cutting the ribbon. Sofia Morse, Sydney Servagno, Macey Hayes, and Kaylee Oglan expressed gratitude for the effort put into getting them into the new gym. The grand opening also coincided with Pine-Richland’s Spike Out Cancer night, an annual event held when they host North Allegheny. The evening included a silent auction to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, with baskets provided by local businesses.