UC Merced fall sports moving to spring with rest of California Pacific Conference
UC Merced fall sports will move to the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, joining the rest of the California Pacific Conference that its teams compete in.
Fall sport seasons in cross country, soccer, and women’s volleyball will be moved to the spring of 2021.
“Taking this action now is a prudent step which allows our student-athletes, staffs, and institutions to make the necessary adjustments to bring our sports on-line safely in the spring,” said Brian Marcotte, the president of Marymount California University and chair of the conference Presidents Council, in a statement Thursday. “With the pandemic fiercely hitting many of the areas our schools inhabit, deferring our fall sports to the spring is the right, though difficult, choice.”
The 15 Cal Pac members are located in California. UC Merced has been a member since 2011.
All UC Merced athletics have been suspended since March 12.
The NAIA’s Council of Presidents meets on July 28 to make further determinations on the status of fall sports nationally.
“The conference will work closely with the NAIA regarding possible realignment of national post-season opportunities, and will adjust conference scheduling and league tournament sites and formats as appropriate,” the conference stated in a press release.
UC Merced announced earlier this week that classes will be given online for at least the first four weeks of the fall semester.
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 5:33 PM.
