Statement from Duke Volleyball – Duke University

The Duke Volleyball program has released the following statement:

“Duke Volleyball experienced targeted racism this past weekend during our match at the Smith Fieldhouse on the campus of BYU.  

Our utmost priority always has been and will continue to be the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. On Friday night, immediate action was taken by our student-athletes and staff to address the horrific circumstance which included racial slurs and threats, and additional protocols were followed via conversations following the match.   

We stand against any form of racism, bigotry or hatred. As a program we have worked extensively to create an inclusive and safe environment where our student-athletes feel heard and supported but are not naive to the fact that there is always work to be done.  

All 18 members of our team — our four Black student-athletes, in particular — have shown tremendous comradery and leadership and are to be commended for their perseverance.  

We will continue to empower our student-athletes to use their voices in the fight against all types of injustice. From the beginning, our team has been adamant that hate will not win, nor prevent them from playing a game they love with the people they love.  

Lastly, we are grateful for the support of Duke Athletics and Duke University as we move forward.” 

#GoDuke