The Cyclone volleyball team will be playing all of its regularly scheduled home games at the new gym at Ames High School. The team was displaced after last week’s record flooding inundated Hilton Coliseum with about 10 feet of standing water.

The volleyball team — the only team housed at Hilton that plays in the fall — has also been forced to relocate its practices to the West Towne Courts in Ames. However, this temporary move has not been viewed as a burden.

“It really hasn’t been that big of an adjustment because we practice there all spring, so we’re pretty comfortable in there,” said coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. “We kind of know the drill — how the nets go up, where to put things — that really has been a nice backup gem for us.”

However, Johnson-Lynch lamented some minor inconveniences.

“It was more just, ‘OK, where are we going to film for practice?'” Johnson-Lynch said. “The inconvenience of having to get out there is really the only issue we’re dealing with.”

Although the water has receded within the confines of Hilton, Johnson-Lynch said there is no definite timetable for a return to the venue. However, she managed to express optimism toward playing at Ames High, a venue that will limit attendence to around 2,000 — the gym’s maximum capacity.

“It’s much smaller, but I think the atmosphere is still going to be great,” said Johnson-Lynch, who was named 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year. “People are going to just be packed in there; it’s going to be rowdy and loud. I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere. What we might lose in numbers we’ll gain just in closeness [to Hilton].

“I’m hoping people will be excited to rally around the team this year and be supportive.”