Gulf volleyball players can breathe a sigh of relief – a deep sigh of relief. The players, A, won’t need to attend study hall sessions and, B, will stop practicing from 7 to 9 p.m. on weeknights.

All this can be attributed to the fact the Buccaneers will have access to the Bever-Hicks Activity Center’s gym floor following the surface’s revamping this summer. Delays in the project kept the volleyball team out of the gym and forced the squad to practice at Gulf Middle School.

Gulf coach Shari Schau expects to be in the gym by Wednesday.

The middle school volleyball team had its gym until 5 p.m. and the JV squad practiced from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a two hour varsity session. Schau was concerned she would have to implement a study hall for her players between the time school ended and the time practice began, which has been avoided.

“So far they’re hanging in there and we’re doing the best with what we got,” Schau said last week. “The middle school has been absolutely fantastic with us as far as that’s concerned. The maintenance people have been great with giving me what I need and the administration has been wonderful , Jessica Eaton, the [athletic director] over at the middle school, has been fantastic.”

The project’s conclusion comes at the perfect time, considering the Bucs will host Zephyrhills Thursday night.