Cal Helped Player Transfer to UCLA

The recent article on volleyball player Holly McPeak by Pete Thomas (Dec. 7) misrepresented the way in which the waiver of the intra-conference transfer rule came about.

As the relationship between McPeak and Coach DeGroot deteriorated, it became clear to me that Holly would not be able to compete at Cal again in volleyball. However, as an educator and administrator, I felt very strongly that it was critical not to allow this unfortunate situation to prevent Holly from completing her final year of collegiate competition.

Consequently, I wrote a letter of support to the conference office that the rule be waived. With the support of Cal, other members of the conference voted favorably on the waiver and approved her transfer without penalty. Thus, the indication in the article that she “challenged” the rule, and that the UCLA coach was the driving force in the resulting waiver are not correct.

I have coincidently extended my personal congratulations to UCLA on winning the NCAA championship in women’s volleyball.

LUELLA J. LILLY

Director, Women’s Athletics

University of California, Berkeley