The San Jose State women’s volleyball season has had several significant moments, showcasing both the team’s performance and the controversies surrounding participation in the sport this year. Currently holding a record of 14-6, the Spartans’ successes include six additional wins awarded through forfeit by four different schools in the Mountain West Conference. Some members of the team expressed concerns over fairness in women’s sports, particularly in light of a lawsuit claiming the presence of a transgender player on the San Jose State squad.
Originally, San Jose State was set to compete in the semifinals of the Mountain West Tournament against Boise State, the sixth seed. However, just hours after Boise State’s victory over Utah State, the team announced its withdrawal from the tournament, choosing to forfeit the match despite the potential for an NCAA Tournament bid. Consequently, San Jose State automatically advances to the championship match, where they will take on either Colorado State, the top seed, or San Diego State, the fifth seed, both of whom they have already faced this season.
Key dates include March 14, when Riley Gaines, a former swimmer from Kentucky, joined more than a dozen other college athletes in filing a lawsuit against the NCAA in Atlanta. They alleged that the organization had violated Title IX by permitting transgender athlete Lia Thomas to participate in the national championships in 2022. Notably, San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser, a transfer from Alabama, later added her name to the lawsuit.
On September 14, Southern Utah was the first team to forfeit a match against San Jose State without providing a specific reason, marking the beginning of a series of forfeitures. Just days later, on September 27, Boise State announced that their women’s volleyball team would not compete against San Jose State. The statement did not clarify the rationale behind the decision. That same day, Idaho’s Governor Brad Little voiced support for Boise State, commending the institution for adhering to his Executive Order aimed at protecting women’s sports.
In the lead-up to October 3, San Jose State suffered a loss to Colorado State, marking an end to their impressive 9-0 start. Afterward, the Spartans received another forfeit win from Wyoming, which chose to withdraw from a match on November 14. Utah State also opted to forfeit a match against San Jose State on October 23.
By November 15, the Mountain West Conference found insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of misconduct that arose from an October 3 match involving San Jose State and Colorado State players. Allegations had been made by a coach suggesting improper manipulation of the game. This matter had been raised by San Jose State’s associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, who has since been absent from the team.
On November 25, a judge dismissed a request made by nine players from the conference, who sought to prevent the San Jose State player from participating in the Mountain West Tournament due to her transgender status. The request for an emergency injunction was denied, with the court stating that the players should have filed earlier regarding their challenges to the league’s policies. This ruling was reaffirmed by an appeals court on November 26.
Following Boise State’s announcement that they would not move forward in the Mountain West Volleyball Championship, the university explained that it was a tough decision, but one made in the interest of fairness. They expressed pride in their team’s efforts to reach the tournament and lamented that they had to skip a chance to compete while awaiting a more comprehensive and fair system for all athletes.
The Mountain West Conference later reaffirmed that the discretion to forfeit matches lies with the institutions and categorized these forfeits as losses, allowing San Jose State to progress to the championship final.