Volleyball falls victim to strike
The Chicago Teachers Union strike has affected another sport. Fifty-six Public League volleyball teams were forced to forfeit state playoff matches Monday.
‘‘We held off as late as we could, hoping it might get resolved, but it is now official: We have told teams facing CPS schools in regionals not to travel,’’ IHSA spokesman Matt Troha said. ‘‘They have been granted forfeit victories.’’
Regionals in all four classes began Monday. About 840 students were affected.
‘‘I’m very frustrated and very disappointed,’’ Jones senior Vanessa Andrews said. ‘‘We’ve worked extremely hard over the summer and the fall. The whole team is just extremely upset. We went undefeated in conference and made it to the city championship, and there was no city championship match because of the strike.’’
CPS golf, soccer, tennis and cross-country teams were forced to forfeit their playoffs last week. If the strike doesn’t end Tuesday, 20 CPS football teams will forfeit their firstround state playoff games.
‘‘I support everything the teachers are fighting for right now,’’ Andrews said. ‘‘I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but the strike has gone too far. It is not only punishing all the athletes but all the seniors, too. I can’t get my transcripts and recommendations sent to colleges, and they have a hard deadline [of Nov. 1].
‘‘The teachers are striking for the students, but ultimately it is the students that are being punished right now.’’
Nearly 3,000 CPS students have had their state playoffs forfeited because of the strike.
‘‘Last year, we lost in the playoffs to Fenwick in an epic match,’’ Jones girls volleyball coach Casey Feeney said. ‘‘It’s unfortunate that this is how the seniors’ careers will end.’’
‘‘THE TEACHERS ARE STRIKING FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS THE STUDENTS THAT ARE BEING PUNISHED RIGHT NOW.’’ VANESSA ANDREWS, senior volleyball player at Jones