The history and singularity of Memorial Gym sets it apart from the University of Idaho’s other buildings. Its gothic cathedral-like structure reaches above other campus structures, and ball-hugging gargoyles cling to its turrets, supervising students and passersby.
For the Vandal volleyball team, its medieval halls are home, and home has been sweet this season.
The Vandals have won five matches in a row and are third in the WAC. Four of their last five victories occurred under the high-domed ceiling of Memorial Gym. They have gone 4-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming to No. 7 Hawaii. Even in that loss the Vandals managed to take one set from the Warriors, a feat that not many WAC teams have achieved in recent years. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Shultz said the home crowd pushes the team to a higher level.
“It’s just more fun playing in your own environment and having people cheer you on rather than not cheer you on,” Schultz said.
Memorial Gym was built in 1928 to honor Idaho soldiers who died in World War I. Since then the building has been a home to Vandal sports. Before Cowan Spectrum, it was the home of men’s and women’s basketball and has long been the home of volleyball.
This year’s volleyball team is not the only team to see success within the confines of Memorial Gym. From 1992-96 volleyball won 49 straight matches at home, the 11th longest home winning streak in NCAA history. Assistant volleyball coach Steve Whitaker said Memorial Gym’s court is an up-close and personal experience that may contribute to continued Vandal success.
“It’s one of the loudest venues I’ve been in,” Whitaker said. “We’re trying to talk to the girls during a timeout and it’s so loud that they can’t hear what we’re saying. It’s an oppressive small environment and I’ve heard it’s really hard to play in when you come to play here.”
For many recruits, the facility can be a selling point. Whitaker said Memorial Gym is a place that grows on recruits when they come to Moscow.
“They’re surprised at first,” Whitaker said. ” Hopefully they get to see a match. Hopefully they get to witness that and then they say ‘OK, this is something special.’ There’s a lot of history in this place.”
Shultz summed Memorial gym up with one word — character.
“My first reaction was that it had a lot of character and I instantly liked it,” Schultz said. “It’s not like a modern facility, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Memorial Gym is a unique volleyball experience that puts fans practically on top of the court and makes it difficult for opposing teams to forget their presence. It’s helped past Vandal teams and certainly seems to be helping this year’s. It’s home to Vandal volleyball and Whitaker said if they had the opportunity to move, they wouldn’t.
“This is the perfect size for volleyball,” Whitaker said.