Duke volleyball player says she refused to let 'racist bigots' get to her

PROVO, Utah — A Duke University volleyball player who was subjected to racial harassment at Friday's game against BYU responded to the incident Sunday.

Political and community leaders both in Utah and abroad have also spoken out, condemning the conduct of the now-banned BYU fan.

In a statement posted to social media, Rachel Richardson, a sophomore at Duke University and starter on the Duke volleyball team, said BYU "failed to take the necessary steps" to address the fan's behavior once university officials and BYU coaching staff were notified of what was happening.

"As a result, my teammates and I had to struggle just to get through the rest of the game, instead of just being able to focus on our playing so that we could compete at the highest level possible," the statement reads in part. "No athlete, regardless of their race should ever be subject to such hostile conditions. God has called each of us to be members of one body, while we may have our differences they should never divide us (Romans 12:4-5)."

Her statement goes on to praise the conduct of the members of the BYU volleyball team and BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe, who she says was "quick to act in a very respectful and genuine manor [sic]."

Richardson admitted that the slurs directed at her took a "mental toll" on her playing ability, but she refused to let it stop her from playing.

"I refused to allow those racist bigots to feel any degree of satisfaction from thinking that their comments had 'gotten to me.' So, I pushed through and finished the game," she wrote.

Holmoe, who met with Richardson and the Duke volleyball coach, addressed the incident ahead of Saturday's game against Washington State, where he called the conduct "egregious."

His comments were later posted to Twitter by BYU Women's Volleyball.

"As children of God... it's our mission to love one another and treat everybody with respect," said Holmoe to the attendees. "Last night, that didn't happen... We didn't live up to our best."

He closed his comments by encouraging BYU fans to cheer for their teams, but to not "cross the line where you would hurt or harm anyone in anyway."

Heather Olmstead, the head coach of the BYU women's volleyball team, issued a statement in which she called out the racist comments and apologized to Richardson and the rest of the Duke team. She also said she had "productive conversations" with Richardson, as well as the Duke head coach and team captain.

However, Holmoe said afterward that Olmstead has received hate, even including threats.

"The personal attacks and death threats Heather has received are completely unacceptable and exacerbate what is already a difficult situation," Holmoe tweeted. "Heather is a remarkable woman, great person and we are so glad to have her at BYU."

Some people had criticized Olmstead, accusing her of refusing to meet with Richardson. Likely in response to this, Holmoe added that he was the person "who made the decision to represent BYU at the meeting with Rachel Saturday morning."

The fan believed to be responsible for the racial slurs at the game against Duke has been banned from all future BYU Athletics events.