San Jose State said Thursday it was disappointed Boise State forfeited its semifinal match in the Mountain West women’s volleyball tournament, but that the Spartans were focused on the future.
Boise State, which twice boycotted regular-season games with San Jose State, withdrew from the conference tournament Wednesday nighthours after securing a spot against the Spartans in Friday’s semifinals. With Boise State’s withdrawal, San Jose State advanced to Saturday’s championship game.
Although the Broncos did not explicitly announce why they were withdrawing, a lawsuit was recently filed in Colorado by players from several schools against the conference and San Jose State officials calling for a Spartan player not to participate in the tournament. They cited unspecified reports claiming there was a transgender player on San Jose State’s volleyball team, even naming her.
U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver ruled Monday that the player was allowed to play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the next day.
“At this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for those who continue to engage in civil and respectful discourse,” San Jose State’s statement said. “We celebrate and support all of our students, including our student-athletes, as they compete for our community this holiday weekend. While we are disappointed in Boise State’s decision, our women’s volleyball team is preparing for Saturday’s match and looking forward to competing for a championship.”
San Jose State, which received six forfeit victories due to boycotts of Mountain West opponents during the regular season, he is seeded second in the conference tournament and receives a bye in the first round. Now the Spartans will play No. 1 Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State in the championship.
Both teams, who meet in the semifinals on Friday, preferred to play the Spartans this season rather than sit out.
“Decisions to forfeit games are at the discretion of the institutions and will be considered a loss,” Mountain West said in a statement Thursday.
Boise State’s decision to withdraw came hours after the Broncos defeated Utah State 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23 in the quarterfinals.
The Broncos athletic department released a statement that evening that read in part, “Our team overcame forfeits to earn a spot in the tournament field and battled to victory over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday.” They shouldn’t give this up. as we wait for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
Mountain West members Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada as well as Southern Utah have canceled games against the Spartans this season. Nevada’s players said they “refuse to participate in any competition that promotes injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details.
Idaho Governor Brad Little signed an executive order on August 28, called the Defending Women’s Sports Act, that challenges the way Title IX rules are interpreted in that state.
“Biological males – men and boys – have physical differences that give them an unfair advantage when competing with women and girls in athletics,” Little said at the time.
While some media outlets have reported these and other details, San Jose State has not confirmed that the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and declined an interview request through school officials.
The participation of transgender women in women’s sports became a hot political issue ahead of the recent elections.
