DAYTON – Winners of four Horizon League regular season titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances in the last five seasons, the Wright State volleyball team got its first look at a completely refreshed, new-look locker room on Wednesday.
The updated space, newly minted as the Gretchen W. Stephenson Family Locker Room, features all new graphics, including player of the year and historical walls, to document the program's history and success, along with a fueling station, a reconfigured locker area to maximize, separate and create additional space for the team to use throughout the day and a 'glam room' complete with mirrors and a vanity.
"We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of Gretchen Stephenson in elevating our volleyball program. This gift will have a lasting impact on our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Joylynn Brown said. "Gretchen's daughter, Lainey, was instrumental in building a winning culture within our program. Her competitive spirit and work ethic on and off the court has set a high standard for the Raiders."
"We are excited to show our student-athletes the Gretchen W. Stephenson Family Locker Room," head coach
Travers Green said. "A lot went into this project, and a special thanks goes to Jason Franklin, Chris Bethel and Joe Dick here on the Wright State side for making this happen. This would not have been possible without the generosity of Gretchen Stephenson. Gretchen and Lainey Stephenson have helped transform our program into what it is today. This gift is going to enhance the experience that future Wright State Volleyball players have for years to come."
"The locker room is a special place where the culture of a program is formed," Green added. "This is a very deserving upgrade for our players and I know they cannot wait for the opportunity to use the space. We are extremely fortunate and appreciative of Gretchen's continued commitment and contributions to our volleyball program."
The locker room had been closed to the team throughout the summer, with the Raiders left anxiously waiting the reveal throughout the preseason in anticipation of Wednesday's unveiling.
"Wright State Volleyball was a vehicle for Lainey to pursue not only her athletic goals, but her academic and personal goals as well," Gretchen Stephenson said. "What she, her teammates and coaches achieved on the court can't compare with the lifetime of experiences and lessons she learned along the way. The entire athletic department staff, from the Athletic Director to the team trainer, were always by her side supporting her and cheering for her. As a parent, it was amazing to watch."
"After she graduated, I knew I wanted to continue to give back to the program that has meant so much to us as a family," Gretchen Stephenson added. "We believe strongly in giving back to those who gave to us. We are honored to have our donation recognized with our name and Lainey's photo. We hope the new players enjoy the upgrades and appreciate how far the program has come. If it helps them win more games and continue Wright State's Horizon League dominance, that will be icing on the cake."
Wright State, the defending Horizon League regular season and tournament champions, travels to take on Cincinnati in its lone exhibition Saturday afternoon before the Raiders lift the lid on the 2024 regular season August 30. The 12-match regular season home schedule gets underway on September 6 as the Raiders host their annual Tru by Hilton Dayton Beavercreek Invitational.
