In Las Vegas, a women’s volleyball team that previously abstained from a match against San Jose State is once again confronted with the decision to play against them. This time, it’s during the Mountain West Conference semifinals, where a coveted opportunity to enter the NCAA Tournament is at stake.
During the regular season, five teams forfeited their matches against San Jose State, which entered the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed. Among these teams are No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will compete on Wednesday, with the victor set to meet the Spartans in the semifinals slated for Friday.
Other institutions, including Wyoming, Nevada, and Southern Utah (not a Mountain West member), also opted out of their regular-season commitments, but the reasons for their withdrawals were not clearly articulated. In the case of Nevada, players voiced concerns over fairness in women’s sports as the rationale behind their decision, while officials from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada indicated that their actions were meant to ensure the integrity of women’s sports.
A lawsuit brought against the NCAA referenced vague reports claiming that a transgender player is on the San Jose State volleyball team, even going so far as to name her. While some media outlets have discussed these assertions, neither San Jose State nor the teams that forfeited have confirmed the presence of a transgender female athlete. The name of the player has been withheld, as they have not spoken publicly about their gender identity and have declined interview requests through university representatives.
On Monday, a judge dismissed a petition from nine players in the conference seeking to prevent the San Jose State player from competing on the grounds of her being transgender. This ruling was upheld by an appeals court on Tuesday.
Following the court’s decision, San Jose State expressed eagerness to begin competing in the Mountain West Conference tournament on Friday. The university reiterated its commitment to ensuring all students’ participation, safety, and privacy, as well as fostering an inclusive and respectful competition environment.
As for Boise State, they did not issue a comment following the ruling on Tuesday.
Utah State’s athletics department stated that they are currently assessing the court’s decision. Doug Hoffman, the associate athletic director for communications, mentioned in an email that their volleyball program is concentrating on the upcoming match on Wednesday while offering their support.
San Jose State, having earned a bye in the first round, will proceed directly to the conference title game if either Utah State or Boise State decides to forfeit once more. Should the Spartans advance to the championship clash, it is highly probable that their opponent will choose to play, as they would likely face either top-seeded Colorado State or teams like No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State, all of whom have played against the Spartans in the current season.
Winning the conference championship will guarantee a spot for the victorious team in the NCAA Tournament.