San Jose State’s volleyball team finds itself at the center of controversy as it heads into the Mountain West Tournament. The Spartans are guaranteed a semifinal spot after six conference wins were awarded via forfeits, tied to national debates over the inclusion of a trans athlete on the team.
With a 12-6 conference record, San Jose State secured a first-round bye. However, the team’s semifinal opponent will inevitably be one of the four teams that refused to play against them during the regular season. Utah State and Boise State, two of those teams, are set to clash in the quarterfinals to determine who will advance to face the Spartans.
A Season Marred by Boycotts
The controversy stems from the presence of trans athlete Blaire Fleming on San Jose State’s roster. Boise State took an uncompromising stance during the regular season, forfeiting two scheduled matches and incurring losses. Utah State, which forfeited one game, has joined a lawsuit seeking to have that loss overturned.
The Mountain West Tournament’s top seed, Colorado State, faces no such turmoil. The Rams played both their matches against San Jose State this year, splitting the series. Meanwhile, Fresno State and San Diego State will battle in the quarterfinals for a chance to face Colorado State in the semifinals.
But uncertainty looms over San Jose State’s tournament journey. Whether their semifinal opponent will actually play remains in question.
Athletes Caught in the Crossfire
Spartans co-captain Brooke Slusser, involved in two lawsuits surrounding her trans teammate Blaire Fleming, shared her team’s frustrations and uncertainty.
“We’re just mostly wondering, are teams even gonna play us, period, if we go there? Because of just everything that’s happened this season,” Slusser said.
“It seems like every few days it looks like it’ll be a fine day and everything’s normal, and then something else happens. So, I truly do think everyone’s just kind of taking things day by day and taking the punches as they come.”
Tournament Guidelines Under Scrutiny
A Mountain West spokesperson assured preparations are in place for all teams, including San Jose State, to compete. The spokesperson also clarified the tournament’s contingency plan in the event of further forfeits.
“If we get to a championship game, and it’s San Jose State vs. whoever, if that institution forfeits the game, then San Jose State wins that match, and then they are tournament champions. And they would be the automatic qualifier out of the Mountain West,” the spokesperson said.
However, these plans could shift pending a federal judge’s ruling. An emergency hearing in Colorado saw Judge Kato Crews address legal challenges raised by Utah State and others against Fleming’s participation.
Judge Weighs Pronouns and Privacy
Judge Crews spent the first 45 minutes of the hearing debating pronoun usage and privacy considerations regarding Fleming. Ultimately, the judge decided to use she/her pronouns for the athlete while allowing others to choose their preferred terms. Crews promised a “timely” decision ahead of next Wednesday’s tournament start.
San Jose State Stands Firm
Despite the turmoil, San Jose State remains steadfast in its support for its players.
“Our athletes all comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies and are eligible to play under the rules of those organizations. Our volleyball team members have earned the right to compete, and we are deeply disappointed for them and with them that they are being denied those opportunities through cancellations and forfeits. We are also proud of how they have persevered through these challenges on the court,” a university spokesperson said in a statement.
As the Spartans prepare for their semifinal match, questions about sportsmanship, inclusivity, and fairness continue to overshadow the competition. The Mountain West Tournament may be just days away, but the debate it has ignited will undoubtedly persist.
