FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History" continues with the 24th moment on the list: Nova Southeastern volleyball hosts the Sharks Classic, the first intercollegiate athletic event in the new 5,000-seat Don Taft University Center Arena.
  
When construction of the new NSU Arena was completed for the 2006-07 athletic season, the Nova Southeastern volleyball team had the honor of being the first squad to hold competition. The inaugural Sharks Classic featured 17 matches and nine Division II teams, and NSU was able to record their first-ever victory on their brand-new home floor.
 
The opening contest took place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, between the Sharks and the University of the Incarnate Word out of San Antonio, Texas (the first NSU point is shown above in the release picture). Though the Cardinals would take the match in five sets (23-30, 30-28, 30-24, 24-30, 15-13), the Sharks would rebound the following day with their first win.
 
In their fourth matchup of the Classic, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, NSU took on the University of Central Oklahoma and put together a phenomenal comeback victory. Despite being down two sets to one and trailing 14-6 in the fourth, the Sharks would eventually take the win (30-26, 28-30, 22-30, 30-25, 17-15).
 
Christina Chubb, who was a sophomore outside hitter at the time and part of this first squad to step foot on the floor for competition, led the way in the first home victory with 18 kills and seven digs.
 
"I definitely still remember the excitement of the first-ever collegiate game played in the NSU Arena," said Chubb. "The arena was a big recruiting factor for me and many of my teammates. We waited our entire freshmen year to play in our home gym. Our team that year was really dedicated to making a mark in Shark history and we wanted to start the season strong and break in the court with a win during the first Shark Classic.
 
"We were all so thrilled and honored to be a part of history and scoring the first points and getting the first win. In conversation with others, I will still mention the fact I was part of the team who played the first-ever collegiate match on the court. I feel privileged to be part of history and it will always be a favorite memory of mine." 

Over the span of the two days, NSU, Incarnate Word, Central Oklahoma, Truman State, Concordia College, Florida Gulf Coast, Minnesota State, Fort Hays State and Barry took part in the inaugural event. All three volleyball courts were used simultaneously in the first-ever intercollegiate competition held at the state-of-the-art arena.

Check back with NSUSharks.com next Tuesday for the next #NSU50 "Top Moments in NSU Athletics History."

Moment No. 1: NSU Athletics is Born
Moment No. 2: Knights Chosen as School Mascot
Moment No. 3: Hansley Hired as Director of Athletics
Moment No. 4: Nova Adds Four Sports
Moment No. 5: Nova Joins NAIA
Moment No. 6: Nova Adds Three More Teams
Moment No. 7: Nova Helps Form FIAC
Moment No. 8: Nova Wins First Conference Championship
Moment No. 9: Baseball and Volleyball Win First Conference Titles
Moment No. 10: NSU Adds Softball
Moment No. 11: NSU Adds Women's Soccer and Wins FSC Tournament Championship
Moment No. 12: NSU Names Ray Ferrero Jr. as School's Fifth President
Moment No. 13: NSU Adds Women's Basketball and Wins Conference Title in First Season
Moment No. 14: NSU Jumps to NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
Moment No. 15: Kyle Ruwe Becomes NSU's First NCAA All-American
Moment No. 16: NSU adds Rowing, Tennis and Men's Cross Country
Moment No. 17: NSU Breaks Ground on University Center
Moment No. 18: Rembe Becomes NSU's First Female NCAA All-American
Moment No. 19: NSU Men's Golf Wins First SSC Championship
Moment No. 20: NSU Unveils Sharks as New Mascot
Moment No. 21: NSU Enshrines Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
Moment No. 22: Women's Golfer Garcia Austt Becomes NSU's First-Ever NCAA Player and Freshman of Year
Moment No. 23: NSU Tennis Goes Program-Best 22-3

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