Unfortunate news hit the volleyball world earlier this week. A fan at Brigham Young University directed racial slurs toward Duke volleyball’s Rachel Richardson, according to a statement she released on Instagram on August 28.
While this incident occurred over 2,000 miles away, the racist acts of the student section hit close to home for the Maryland volleyball squad.
In a road match at Nebraska last season, Maryland’s Rainelle Jones found herself in a similar situation. While kneeling for the national anthem, a spectator yelled at Jones “stand up, you piece of trash,” according to an article last year article by The Diamondback.
While this verbal abuse toward Jones was challenging for her to handle – the slander toward the sophomore provided Jones with even more emotional distress.
“I’m actually way more hurt than I was last year,” Jones said in a press conference Wednesday morning. “I feel like because I knew Rachel and I’ve been in that position before…I think that it’s really important that I need to [help people].”
Jones and Richardson spoke to each other since the incident, and Jones advised her to release a statement, which garnered over 80,000 likes on Instagram.
“I told her that she should write it because that’s her voice,” Jones said. “We don’t want her voice changed at all, so I think it’s important that she writes a statement.”
Richardson has had a difficult time handling the attention following the racial slurs directed at her.
“I talked to her; she’s overwhelmed; she’s scared,” the Terps’ middle blocker said. “She doesn’t know if she should take the social justice perspective or if she should take a step back and be an athlete, so it’s really hard for her right now and I feel really bad.”
Richardson, who hails from Ellicott City, Maryland, is close with Maryland volleyball head coach Adam Hughes. Hughes commented on the incident at Wednesday’s press conference.
“I coached [Richardson] when she was 14-15 years old,” Hughes said. “I got to know the family [and] actually had an instance where the dad really taught me some valuable lessons when I was just a young father, and a coach.”
Maryland’s fifth-year head coach emphasized how important this issue resonates with the program.
“We just want her to know that we’re thinking of her, we’re supporting her,” Hughes said.
The severity of the situation has created additional adversity for Maryland during the early stages of its season.
“I think they’re supporting each other a lot,” Hughes said. “I think people are pretty hurt by it… It has lasting impacts for a lot of people.”
In response, Hughes spoke with his players regarding the situation and is with them through this challenging time, according to a team statement.
“It’s a challenge. We talked about it as a team on Friday, [trying] to create an open space and keep those conversations in-house,” the head coach said.
Richardson’s statement touched Hughes deeply, providing him a lesson that he views as a ‘guiding light.’
“We can be better,” Hughes said. “We can do better. We need to communicate that and not be afraid to have those conversations.”
Although Maryland is faced with a daunting conference slate the team’s performance on the court takes a backseat to racial justice, according to Jones.
“We’re more than just an athlete,” the Preseason All-Big Ten honoree said. “We’re more than just our number on our back… because what you see for me and [Richardson,] you see a Black woman, but then you see a volleyball player.”
For Jones, being a Black volleyball player isn’t easy, but she knows of the greater impact she can create.
“As Black women in America, that’s also having to play in a predominantly white sport, it’s really hard, and having to recognize that and talk about it is big for us,” she said.
