NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Sept. 22, 2017) – Rutgers volleyball debuted its brand new Taraflex playing surface at the College Ave. Gym upon the opening of 2017 Big Ten play against Iowa on Friday evening.
 
With the floor's installation, the Scarlet Knights become one of just 26 NCAA Division I programs to utilize Gerflor USA's Taraflex floor, the exact surface used at the last 11 Summer Olympic Games. The portable Taraflex floor at Rutgers, featuring RU's signature colors, fonts and logos, is the only one of its kind among collegiate programs in the Northeast region and one of just nine to be used by a Power 5 institution across the nation.
 
"This is a game-changer," said head coach CJ Werneke. "Our hard-working volleyball program competes with the best teams in the nation in the Big Ten Conference, and they deserve the best and the safest playing surface possible. The historic College Ave. Gym is now home to a state-of-the-art floor that only a small handful of top programs can claim."
 
Taraflex is globally renowned for its superior long-term safety features, its immediate protection of athletes and enhanced grip and slide for the best playability. The padding makes diving, sliding and jumping easier on the players' bodies, while its sleek and durable design turns any facility into a volleyball-centric arena.
 
Gerflor has provided Taraflex floors to 11 consecutive Olympic Games, including 11 volleyball courts and four handball courts over that span. Gerflor is the official floor supplier to the FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) and has been the floor provider for every major national or world competition over the last five years.
 
There are now three Taraflex floors in the Big Ten, with Rutgers joining Iowa and Nebraska.
   
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