Rebuilding Our Home

REBUILDING OUR

On March 19, 2018, an EF-3 tornado ripped through Jacksonville State’s campus and the north part of the city. The storm caused damage to more than 50 of JSU’s 72 buildings, some beyond repair. Estimated damages was calculated at $72 million that July, and the campus’ battle scars still show today from abandoned Wallace Hall to the growing foundations of the new business building sprouting out of the ground more and more each month. Fortunately, JSU was on spring break and most of campus was deserted. Many of the volleyball players were in South Carolina for a beach season tournament. Upon returning, players and staff spent parts of each day volunteering in the cleanup efforts in surrounding neighborhoods. Pete Mathews Coliseum, the home to volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball along with track and soccer locker rooms and offices took a severe hit and was under major repair throughout the 2018-19 seasons. The volleyball program temporarily relocated to Kennamer Hall on the southeast corner of campus for 2018. An auxiliary practice gym received a new floor and HVAC system over the summer, while storage and office space was cleared to house a locker room and equipment space. JSU finished 18-14 overall that year, bolstering a 10-3 record at its home-away-from-home. The Todd Garvey era got underway with a 3-0 sweep of North Alabama on Aug. 24 to begin the Jax State Invitational which continued on as planned despite facility restraints from the storm. JSU also earned wins over Mercer, Morehead State and Belmont in front of the “Kennamer Krazies” throughout the year. The Gamecocks won their final five home matches to secure the No. 4 seed in the OVC Tournament, where JSU would then pick up its first postseason win since 2009 and set the stage for its title run the following season back at The Pete.