Grambling State volleyball is undergoing an overhaul that reportedly has left the entire team in limbo.
It all started with a message posted Monday by the Twitter account Grambling State Volleyball Fans which reported that head coach Chelsey Lucas “cuts the entire volleyball team.” The tweet also alleged that Lucas, in her first year as coach, did so to recruit players from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“New volleyball coach cuts the ENTIRE volleyball team… mind you she’s a Grambling alum, the tweet read. “When has it ever been ok for GramFam to cut GramFam to prioritize current UAPB players.”
New volleyball coach cuts the ENTIRE volleyball team… mind you she’s a Grambling alum. When has it ever been ok for GramFam to cut GramFam to prioritize current UAPB players
#DownLowAndDirty
— Grambling State Volleyball Fans (@GramblingVBall) April 4, 2022
As of Monday night, the roster found on the school’s website did not list any players, only an error message appears instead.
Destiny Johnson, a sophomore defensive specialist, described on social media as being “sick to my stomach” over the news that the roster had undergone a drastic change.
“All the time, energy, (and) dedication I put into the volleyball program here at Grambling State has been thrown right back in my face,” Johnson said. “My entire team has been robbed of our last years to play the sport we love by a woman who has come in and disrespected and belittled us since day 1.
“I’m so upset that the AD has made no effort to look further into this. Grambling State University especially the athletic department should be truly ashamed of themselves. We deserve so much better.”
In a statement provided to HBCU Sports late Monday, athletic director Trayvean Scott supported Lucas’ decision to alter the roster.
“Just as the transfer portal empowers student-athletes, our coaches are also empowered to make the decisions they deem necessary to advance their programs,” Scott said.
Lucas, a former Grambling volleyball player, was hired in February after a three-year stint at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. While at UABP, Lucas’ teams compiled a 37-44 overall record and a 27-17 mark in the SWAC, including going 13-3 in 2021. She also previously coached at Alcorn State.
She did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by HBCU Sports.
The Tigers finished this past season 11-17 and 8-8 in the SWAC under then-head coach Demetria Keys-Johnson, who stepped down last December.
