While it is impossible to quantify exactly how playing at home contributed to the GW men’s 7-0 sweep of George Mason this weekend, a new air-pressured facility seem to be giving the men’s and women’s tennis teams a newfound home-court advantage.

The domed facility, consisting of five indoor courts, is a major part of a larger renovation of Mount Vernon Campus athletic facilities that includes six outdoor courts, a softball field and a soccer/lacrosse field.

The tennis courts give GW teams essentials they have played without in recent years: fan support and year-round practice, both of which will raise GW’s visibility to potential recruits, head coaches said. Perhaps more importantly, GW teams no longer have to travel upwards of 30 miles for practice.

“We traveled half an hour to 45 minutes to get to courts to practice,” said men’s head coach Tom Hawkins. “The new courts let us get more practice time and will allow us to change the program and practice heavier by reducing travel time.”

Junior Tracy Wei, who plays No. 2 singles, said playing nearby cuts travel time to practices. “We had to travel every day to a country club just to practice. That made the practice and match schedules tough.”

A home court also strengthens GW’s fan base, as students and family can follow the team easily.

“It’s nice to get 30 to 50 people out to a match cheering for the team,” Hawkins said.

Women’s coach Helen Andrews said that will boost her team’s spirit.

“(We had) fans for the first time at a home match which made a huge improvement on the team’s performance,” she said of the team’s 6-0 weekend loss to American.

After their completion in a month, new locker rooms will allow coaches to hold pep talks before each mach. The locker rooms, located in the basement, are expected to be large enough to give personal lockers to members of men’s and women’s tennis, lacrosse and soccer teams.

“It feels nice to have your own locker and such new facilities to use before and after a match,” Wei said. “It’s very modern.”

The Mount Vernon renovations indicate the University is growing increasingly conscious of its athletic reputation. Andrews said she can improve her tennis program by holding more rigorous and efficient training now that the team has five courts to practice on.

“The girls can do more one-on-one work simultaneously thanks to the five permanent courts and we can construct practices in any way we desire,” Andrews said.

Both coaches asserted facilities’ crowd section and proximity should “make recruitment easier in years to come,” Hawkins said.

“Recruitment-wise, the facility is ideal,” said Andrews, who added the team already has several prospective recruits for next season whose names she could not release.

Completed after about a year and a half of construction, the new facility provides each team with specially-surfaced courts, air conditioning and heating for year-round play, said assistant athletic director Tony Vecchione, who oversees GW facilities.

But the facility has a ways to go.

“As of now, the facility is team-playable in a controlled environment, meaning that a supervisor (coach) must be present at all times.and it is not yet open to the public,” Vecchione said.

The facility has provided a much-needed renovation for the GW tennis teams.

“Now we have a home,” Andrews said.