The University of Nevada and its volleyball team are at odds over whether the women on the squad should play a match against a team with a man on it. On Monday, Nevada players announced they voted to forfeit the match against San Jose State due to a “transgender” player called “Blaire” Fleming.
The match is scheduled for Oct. 26.
According to OutKick, the team sent a statement to the website stating it would not play against San Jose State and would instead “stand united in solidarity” with other women’s volleyball teams who refused to play against a team with a male player on it — Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State.
“We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” the statement said.
Senior Sia Liilii, one of two team captains for the Wolfpack, said the squad was “pretty upset” that the university released a statement without consulting the players first.
“We decided…we wouldn’t participate in a game that advances sex-based discrimination or injustice against female athletes,” Liilii said.
Following the team’s statement, Nevada released a statement noting that the players’ decision “does not represent” the position of the university. In fact, Nevada said it “intends to move forward with the match as scheduled.”
Nevada noted the players’ decision and statement were made without consultation with the school or the athletic department.
“The University and its athletic programs are governed by the Nevada Constitution and Nevada law, which strictly protect equality of rights under the law, and that equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin,” the university said.
Instead, players may choose not to participate in the match and none of them will be subject to discipline if they sit out, the university said.
The controversy comes less than a week after Fleming spiked the ball off the face of an opponent:
The University of Iowa played host to San Jose State earlier this year. The Hawkeyes lost the match against the women’s volleyball team with the male player on it.
Like Nevada, Iowa law protects individuals based on their so-called gender identity.
