Quinnipiac drops three varsity sports

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Updated: Thursday, 05 Mar 2009, 6:26 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 05 Mar 2009, 5:43 AM EST

Hamden (WTNH) - The Quinnipiac University campus is buzzing with word that men's golf, outdoor track, and women's volleyball teams will no longer be part of the school's sports program. It's all in effort to balance the school's budget.

Members of the volleyball team say they know their team is not a money maker for the school. But, they claim you can't put a price on sportsmanship and what they thought was the school's promise to support the growing program.

"When we found out, we were all in tears," Kayla Lawler, of the Quinnipiac volleyball team, said.

When the school told them game over, the members of the Quinnipiac volleyball team were stunned to learn the school is cutting the team citing budget cuts.

"Now I lost my team," Kristin Corinaldesi, of the Quinnipiac volleyball team, said. "I don't have anything so I'd like to finish my senior year playing volleyball."

The three freshman who chose to attend QU to play volleyball were really hit hard by the decision.

The school says it will honor their scholarships but these players revealed how devastating this news is. "Right now it feels like a stab in the heart," Lawler said. "This is really upsetting because its big part of our lives."

Quinnipiac University declined to speak about the decision to cut volleyball, golf and outdoor track. Players feel it's unfair, saying other teams like basketball and ice hockey, that play in the school's new arena, could help support volleyball.

"We reach out the community people, come to our games," Shelagh Dolan, a Quinnipiac University volleyball player, said. "We do have fans but we're not the sort that is raking in profits because we don't even charge people to come and see us."

"It's about $58,000 to support our program and in the grand scheme of things that's not that much," said Quinnipiac volleyball player Erin Obertdevest. "The volleyball team now has a game plan to try and save themselves -- looking to other students, appealing to the administration."

"They have not heard the beginning from us; we are going to make noise about this," Stephanie Brediger, of the Quinnipiac University volleyball team, said.

One freshman revealed to News Channel 8 that if the school stands by the decision, she'll have no choice but to look to another school with a solid program.