Big West: No fall sports for 2020-21
Women’s volleyball, soccer seasons among those canceled
The Big West Conference Board of Directors announced Thursday that it will not conduct fall sports for the 2020-21 academic year, ending the hope that teams such as the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team could play this season.
In addition to women’s indoor volleyball, the Big West decision affects women’s and men’s soccer, and women’s and men’s cross country. UH participates in women’s volleyball, soccer and cross country.
The decision was made “after extended consideration of the ongoing health and safety challenges affecting Big West campuses and communities, and the significant resources required to properly safeguard the health and well-being of all student-athletes,” Big West commissioner Dan Butterly said in a statement.
Hawaii is the only school in the 11-member Big West not located in California, which has recently reimposed stay-at-home orders in many regions of the state as the number of COVID-19 cases soar across most of the country.
“As painful as it is, we understand the Big West Conference’s decision to cancel fall sports for the 2020-21 school year,” UH athletic director David Matlin said in a statement. “We empathize with our studentathletes and coaches first and foremost as they have worked diligently to prepare for a spring season.
“We also feel bad for our fans and appreciate their loyalty to the UH Athletics program. That said, we will move forward with providing service and support to all of our student-athletes and navigate through this pandemic.”
The Big West postponed the fall season in July, with hopes of possibly playing those sports in early 2021. Teams had been allowed to practice while the season was in limbo.
“We are obviously disappointed there won’t be a season,” UH women’s volleyball coach Robyn Ah Mow said in a statement. “Since we started practicing six weeks ago we’ve been very honest with the girls, that nothing is set in stone. We would have loved to bring back some excitement to the islands with Wahine Volleyball but we all know that with this pandemic there is a lot of uncertainty.
“We’re thankful to our administration as well as facilities and medical staff for doing their best and working hard to keep us all safe and healthy. Looking forward to next season. Go ’Bows!!!”
The Big West announcement comes with winter sports such as basketball already underway. The Rainbow Warriors and Wahine basketball teams open their seasons this weekend against Hawaii Pacific, the men tonight and the women Sunday.
The board also said it will “continue to monitor and evaluate the current program of COVID-19 medical and safety protocols in men’s and women’s basketball. Basketball will guide a decision regarding a safe return to competition for Big West spring sports. That decision is expected by late January 2021.”