Dayton dedicates renovated Hausfeld Court

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Lori Hausfeld saw the new Dayton Flyers volleyball facility for the first time Monday. She saw it brought to life Tuesday night as hundreds of fans turned out for the dedication of Hausfeld Court at UD’s Frericks Center before a match against Miami.

A $1.2 million donation by the Hausfeld family, a gift announced in January, allowed UD to revamp its volleyball court and locker room inside the Frericks Center. The donation was made in honor of Lori’s daughter Kacie, a former UD volleyball player from Springboro who died in a plane crash with her father Tom on April 1, 2010.

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“It’s very emotional,” Lori said. “I’ve thought about this for a few years with my daughter Ali, and we had a vision of what we wanted. For the university to turn it into a reality, it just seems unreal. I wish (Kacie) was here. But she is kind of now. She’ll be here for a long time now, I think.”

A new players lounge is named after Kacie. Photos of her in action are framed just inside the door. Also on the wall is a tribute, which reads in part, “Kacie, who wore No. 14 and was known for her leadership and influential personality, excelled for three seasons in the volleyball program as a setter, starting in the last two with 7.0 assists per set and 51 aces. … Her impact is still felt by the team. The Flyers present the Kacie Hausfeld Teammate Award annually.”

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Among the updates to the facility are:

• Improved seating on the wooded bleachers.

• New portable seating at court side.

• New public address and sound system.

• New scoreboards and video boards with replay.

• Updated banners and graphics.

“I’m hoping it’ll help them for years to come in recruiting,” Hausfeld said.

RELATED: View photos from the dedication

Dayton coach Tim Horsmon, who recruited Kacie and coached her as a freshman, addressed the crowd before the match.

“Today we get to celebrate Kacie and her father Tom,” Horsmon said. “The times we had together were special. She was everything we talk about in terms of an unbelievable attitude, a love for the game and respect. She had a lot of fun in life.”

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