LEXINGTON, Ky. — A number of fall sports will be postponed at Transylvania University this year, including men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball and field hockey. 


What You Need To Know

  • Transy announces some fall sports are postponed

  • Impacted sports include soccer, volleyball and field hockey

  • The university will move forward with low contact sports such as tennis, gold and cross-country

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), which includes most Transylvania teams, announced it would postpone high contact risk fall sports and move forward with lower contact sports such as golf, tennis and cross country. The Southern Athletic Association, of which the field hockey team is a part, previously announced it would postpone field hockey competition until spring 2021.

The conference began formalizing plans for a competitive schedule for soccer and volleyball during the 2021 winter and spring semesters, and details will be released at a later date.

In addition to the low contact sports scheduled for the fall, eventing, triathlon and women's and men's swimming and diving will move forward. No decisions have been made regarding winter sports.

"Transylvania athletics programs have enjoyed great success and are a source of pride on campus and in our community," said Dr. Holly Sheilley, vice president for athletics. "Although I am saddened and disappointed for our student-athletes and coaching staff, our first priority has to be continuing to keep them healthy and safe. We are committed to doing everything we can to provide meaningful athletic experiences this fall and beyond. Our commitment to rise through these challenges will continue to grow until we have all our teams able to compete."

Sheilley noted that postponing the sports is not ideal, but the risks outweigh the benefits.

"Athletics are an important part of the Transylvania experience, but the risk is too high and the consequences too great."

Fall sports teams and student-athletes whose seasons have been postponed to early 2021 will have the opportunity to participate in conditioning, strength training and practices given that all required local, state and federal health and safety guidelines are met.

The conference is also exploring establishing some competition dates for baseball and softball during the fall season which will not count toward league standings.