The Boise State women’s volleyball team announced it would forfeit its Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinal contest against San Jose State. The sixth-seeded Broncos earned the semifinal spot by beating Utah State in the first round of the tournament.
“The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one,” a statement from Boise State Athletics said. “Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
San Jose State, which earned half of its conference wins by forfeit this season, will advance to the tournament title match without playing a single set. Boise State forfeited two matches this season against San Jose State. A specific reason was never given, but multiple teams forfeited matches against San Jose State this season as a “transgender woman” plays on the squad.
“Blaire” Fleming previously played at Coastal Carolina. Fleming transferred from the South Carolina school and headed for San Jose State before the 2022 season. South Carolina’s Save Women’s Sports Act went into effect on May 16, 2022.
Fleming is fourth in the conference with 3.96 kills per set. Fleming is the only San Jose State player in the top-10 of the conference in kills.
Boise State was two wins away from earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament, but instead ended its season by choice. The Broncos have three seniors on their roster.
It isn’t just opponents who have a problem with a male sharing the court with them in women’s volleyball. San Jose State setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser is one of the individuals who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding Fleming’s participation.
According to a report, Slusser has been a roommate of Fleming as well. Slusser told Outkick she lived with Fleming and three other teammates but didn’t know Fleming was transgender at first. Slusser added the San Jose State Athletic Department would assign Fleming with Slusser on road trips and learned later Fleming specifically requested Slusser as a roommate. Slusser said the athletic department discouraged players from speaking out regarding the situation.
Slusser said it’s been awkward for the team and she already used her transfer, so she cannot transfer again.
“It was either I walk away from volleyball forever or I kind of swallow this hard pill, suck it up and play, do what I can for my team and protect them any way I can,” Slusser said. “Just having to go through this breaks me, because the team is full of such loving, caring women, and to put them all through this is absolutely absurd.”
Fleming has spiked the ball off the face of an opponent already this season:
Every woman needs to take a stand and refuse to play. That includes his teammates. It seems so easy to me. I get that sports are a huge deal, but isn’t saving women’s sports a bigger deal?