The conference fall sports seasons for Bradley and Illinois State universities have officially ended before they got a chance to start.
The Missouri Valley Conference announced Friday it has postponed its fall sports seasons amid concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Valley cited “continuing uncertainty around the ability to play full-season league schedules safely.”
The decision comes more than two weeks after the Valley pushed back the start of the fall seasons to Sept. 18, and just one day after the NCAA announced it would not conduct any championship tournaments this fall.
Volleyball and cross country at both colleges are affected, as well as men’s soccer at Bradley and women’s soccer at Illinois State. Plans for basketball and other winter sports remain unchanged.
ISU Athletics Director Larry Lyons was not immediately available for comment. An attempt to reach the Bradley Athletic Department was unsuccessful.
The Valley said it will continue to evaluate the possibility for moving the fall sports to next spring.
Athletes in fall Valley sports can participate in activities such as practices, conditioning sessions and team meetings that adhere to public health guidelines and NCAA regulations.
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