By ERIC VICCARO

sports@bowienewsonline.com

Both Bowie and Forestburg High School volleyball will be in action during the “Battle in the Dome” on Aug. 9 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

This will be the opening night for volleyball across the state, and Midwestern State University has agreed to serve as an event host.

“It’s a big opportunity for us to play in a different setting,” said Forestburg head coach Cori Hayes.

“It’s going to be nice to play Christ Academy,” Hayes added. “It will be a good experience, and we are looking forward to it.”

Christ Academy and Forestburg didn’t play each other during the 2015 season.

However, Christ Academy played against local schools here in Prairie Valley and Saint Jo.

Bowie and Archer City have typically played each other in the season-opener. The Lady Rabbits won in Bowie two years ago; and the Lady ‘Cats triumphed in 2015.

“We wanted to play in a bigger venue,” Bowie head coach Jeanie Stark said.

Stark talked with current Midwestern State University volleyball coach Natalie Rawson about playing at Ligon Coliseum – and the idea came to fruition, and has even mushroomed to eight varsity teams and more freshman and junior varsity squads.

Read more, and see the complete schedule, in the print and electronic versions of The Bowie News for July 30.

Bowie’s Carcyn Robertson (right) bumps the ball while teammate Lauren Gill watches during the Texas Advantage Volleyball camp from July 23 at the high school. Bowie will open the 2016 season versus Archer City at Midwestern State University. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)