Athletes react to U of U decision to cut beach volleyball

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Many former Utah Women’s Volleyball athletes are considering leaving the University of Utah after their program was cut.

Elly Collins — a red-shirt senior on what used to be the University of Utah’s Beach Volleyball team — transferred to the university a year ago to join the team. However, the university switched from the Pac-12 to the Big 12, a conference that doesn’t have a lot of beach volleyball teams.

“They just cut our program,” Collins said. “There’s no point in me staying if there’s no volleyball. In the game of volleyball, you have to be decisive… It felt like someone died. So now I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my life since I feel like everything has been turned upside down.”

“It’s discontinuation is heartbreaking because, looking back on this college experience, that’s what I’m going to remember,” Collins said. “Right now, I’m in the portal and looking for new options.”

Collins is having to face the tough task of figuring out what she’ll do next. And she’s not the only one trying to figure out her next move.

Elle Burleson, another player on the team, stated, “I entered the portal and have already had phone calls with a couple of other schools but I also already signed a lease with an apartment and that’s not going to be easy to get out of.”

In a statement from University of Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan, he said, “We will work closely with each of our impacted student-athletes to provide them with the support they need…their scholarships will be honored through the recipe of their undergraduate degree.”

However, the sentiment doesn’t seem to make the athletes feel any better.

Maeve Griffin, another player, stated, “There’s two scholarships for the 18 of us so when they say they’re going to honor our scholarships it’s not worth it for a lot of people on the team because the two scholarships are divided up between everyone.”

The team has since launched a petition, a final play to get their team back. But as of now, the university is moving forward with its plans.