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A dazzling blue court was flooded with digs, dives and dancing as the Boise State women’s volleyball team hosted its first scrimmage at ExtraMile Arena since 2002. As Boise State transitions into the Pac-12, women’s volleyball moves to a new, blue home court with a roster featuring nine newcomers. Walking into ExtraMile Arena for a sporting event typically involves flashing lights and a full wood basketball court. This space was different. The bright blue court, plastered with Pac-12 logos and divided by a central net, was a new sight for many Broncos. As excitement filled the room, the women’s volleyball team warmed up for their first full-production event in the arena. “We were all super excited to come in here and really feel the atmosphere and get a sense of what it’ll be like on game days,” Tehya Maeva said, a senior transfer from Syracuse. Since 2002, the Broncos have played their home games in the Bronco Gymnasium. As attendance increased, Boise State routinely sold out the space, creating a need for a larger venue. Head coach Shawn Garus sees the move as an opportunity to raise the program’s profile and encourage higher competition. “We want the opportunity to play big opponents and get big crowds,” Garus said. “We want to play in the best arena on campus … in the arena with great sound systems, video boards, lighting, concessions.” Garus said the main purpose of the scrimmage was to test the production elements in ExtraMile before their first conference match. Eager fans were met with t-shirt tosses and the multi-generational music of the Black Eyed Peas, Tate McRae and Kendrick Lamar. The friendly competition mixed with musical choices prompted cheering and dancing from both the stands and the sidelines. Boise State graduated three athletes and lost another seven to the transfer portal following the 2025 season, leaving 10 spots open on the roster. The recruiting process ultimately filled nine of those spots with newcomers, leaving one less player on their roster. Of the nine additions, four are transfers and five are freshmen. Barlow transferred from Northern Arizona after helping the Lumberjacks capture the 2025 Big Sky regular-season championship. She led NAU with 430 digs and averaged 3.74 digs per set. Among the transfers are Amelia Hansen and Athena Cox, who bring different levels of Division I experience to the Broncos. Hansen redshirted her freshman season at SMU, while Cox appeared in five games before suffering a season-ending injury. Despite their limited collegiate playing time, both have years of competitive volleyball experience. With both being high school champions, Hansen led her team to win the state title in Colorado with 1,000 career kills as Cox assisted her school in collecting a CIF win. Tehya Maeva brings a different level of experience to the young roster. The senior setter has Division I experience at both Nevada and Syracuse. Despite her seniority, Maeva’s drive to improve has not faded. “Even though I’m a senior, I still always wanted to learn and grow and see what else I can do,” Maeva said. Kendall Hastings, the lone returning senior, has taken on more of a leadership role and said her freshman teammates shocked her with their talent throughout the preseason. Specifically, she shared that Savannah Sheridan’s transition from being a beach volleyball player has become a huge asset to the team. Hastings said Sheridan’s stylistic gameplay shines through in practices and she brings shot and tip techniques to the court not typically seen in standard volleyball. “All of them have been doing a great job and really adjusting to the game,” Hastings said. The transition into the Pac-12 is also unique to Boise State volleyball as this is not Garus’ first time guiding the Broncos through a conference change. In his 17 years with the program, he led the Broncos through the 2011 shift from Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West. “It was definitely a step up from the WAC to the Mountain West and I think it can be again from the Mountain West to the Pac-12,” Garus said. “We are aligning ourselves with other schools that are taking our opportunity to play at the highest level.” Garus also sees the Pac-12’s northwest footprint as an opportunity to develop new rivalries and he’s especially eager to compete against Gonzaga, Washington State and Oregon State. For a program already adjusting to a new court and roster, the Pac-12 isn’t just a new conference. It’s the next step up. Boise State will host 15 home matches in the 2026 season, including seven in ExtraMile Arena. The Broncos open their season on Sep. 3-5 with the Boise State Classic, an early-season athletic tournament, where their first match will be against Idaho State.