LITTLE ROCK — ATHLETICS
UCA to add turf
The University of Central Arkansas’ board of trustees voted Friday to spend $1 million in capital reserves on artificial turf for its football and softball fields at Estes Stadium and Farris Field, respectively.
The money will be paid back over 10 years with the money the UCA athletic department now won’t have to spend on such things as mowing and lawn care. The school will go from five employees to three for field maintenance, Athletic Director Dr. Brad Teague said.
If necessary, money for the payback also could come from additional NCAA funding, according to the board’s agenda.
“Ever since I started here, people have asked me about turf,” Teague said. “Three high schools have turf in our county [Faulkner]. All the schools in the Southland Conference have turf.”
Trustee Rush Harding III asked if the turf would be purple and gray, the university’s colors, or green. Teague said his office and other stakeholders will make that decision later.
Boise State University and Eastern Washington University have installed blue and red artificial turf fields in their football stadiums, respectively. But Teague doesn’t expect UCA to go that route.
“We don’t want to copy what they’re doing,” Teague said by telephone. “I don’t think solid purple would make sense for anybody.”
Installation of artificial turf at Estes Stadium will begin after UCA’s spring football game April 16. The turf installation at Farris Field will begin in June.
UCA begins the 2011 football season Sept. 1 against Henderson State in Conway.
- Arkansas Democrat-GazetteGYMNASTICS
Arkansas beats No. 1
Arkansas recorded its best score of the season Friday as the No. 15 Razorbacks beat top-ranked Florida 196.70-196.10 in Fayetteville.
With the victory, Arkansas (5-3, 5-1) earned at least a tie for the SEC regular-season championship. Florida was undefeated this season.
Arkansas junior All-American Jaime Pisani won the all-around title with a 39.60. She also won the beam with a 9.875, and tied for first in the vault with a 9.925 and the floor exercise with a 9.90.
VOLLEYBALL
Three Razorbacks to try for nationals
Arkansas volleyball players Brooke Fournier, Jasmine Norton and Kelli Stipanovich will participate in open tryouts for the U.S. Women’s National Team this weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“This will be a great experience and opportunity for Brooke, Jasmine and Kelli,” Arkansas Coach Robert Pulliza said. “Being part of the SEC, we see a very high level of volleyball but this will be an even higher level that will only help them in their growth as volleyball players and the experience will be invaluable.”
Fournier was a freshman libero last season. Norton was a sophomore who led the SEC with 3.83 kills per set last season. Stipanovich finished her junior season second on the team with 2.40 kills per set.
Stipanovich participated in the national team tryouts in 2009.
SOFTBALL
UCA upends Houston on road
Central Arkansas beat No. 23 Houston 1-0 Friday at the Baylor QTI Powers Invitational in Waco, Texas.
UCA (3-8) had a shutout pitching performance from sophomore Kelsie Armstrong and a solo home run from Kasey Britt. It is the first victory over a NCAA Division I ranked team in program history.
Britt, a junior first baseman, led the top of the fourth inning with the home run. She finished 3 for 3.
Armstrong (2-5) had six strikeouts and allowed two hits.
TENNIS
Arkansas women pick up victory
No. 16 Arkansas beat Colorado in a 7-0 sweep Friday in Fayetteville.
Arkansas (9-3) won all of the match sets for the doubles point.
Valentina Starkova, Jade Frampton, Anouk Tigu, Claudine Paulson, Stephanie Roy and Emily Carbone all won in straight sets for Arkansas.
TRACK AND FIELD
Arkansas signs Allen
Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam has signed Aaron Allen for next season. Allen, of McKinney, Texas, is the sixth athlete to sign to the team for next season.
“We are excited about adding Aaron to our class,” Bucknam said. “He has great range in a variety of events with exceptional skills in the 800. That 800-meter crew is a strong part of our program. Aaron is going to make a solid group even better.”
Allen finished third in the 800 meters at the USATF National meet.
Sports, Pages 26 on 02/26/2011