After four university volleyball programs refused to play a San Jose State University squad with a transgender player in its lineup, the SJSU women’s team lost its first match of the season in straight sets Thursday night at Colorado State University.
CSU swept San Jose State in Colorado days after the University of Wyoming and three other teams forfeited scheduled matches against the Spartans. The announcements came after news media and court filings announced that SJSU outside hitter Blaire Fleming is transgender.
Along with UW, so far Southern Utah University, Boise State University and Utah State University have canceled their scheduled matches against the California team, with little explanation as to what led them to those decisions.
In UW’s case, the cancellation was an about-face from the week prior, when the university’s spokesman said, “Opinions regarding fairness vary from individual to individual among the involved parties — (like) coaches, student-athletes, etc.”
San Jose State knows of no other cancellations on the horizon, the school’s senior communications director told Cowboy State Daily in a Friday email.
Indeed, the University of Nevada-Reno confirmed to Cowboy State Daily on Thursday it will play the team, saying, “The University will continue to abide by the NCAA, Mountain West Conference and USA Volleyball rules and regulations as well as the laws and Constitution of the State of Nevada.”
Star Player Gone
CSU’s three-set victory Thursday night scored 25-18, 25-20 and 25-20, leaving CSU with a 7-6 season record and SJSU at 9-1.
Fleming was the high scorer of the match with 15.5 points, and had more kills (14) and total attacks (42) than any other player as well.
Fleming is not normally the team’s star, but top scorer Nayeli Ti'a was not on the court at CSU Thursday night.
Coach’s Word
San Jose State University head coach Todd Kress told reporters he was grateful for the chance to play.
“Should I say thank you for playing us tonight?” he told the CSU coach, according to his later interview with Colorado Fox31 and other reporters. “I seriously meant that because, of course, we’re disappointed that we’re losing opportunities to play.
“But it’s not just us that are losing opportunities to play, it’s the people choosing not to play us. That’s very unfortunate when it comes to these young women that have earned the right to step on the court and play.”
The unexpected cancellations may have contributed to the loss Thursday, said Kress, who called athletes “creatures of habit.”
He said his team is doing well handling outside pressures, and he’s excited for its Oct. 10 match against San Diego State.
And The Argument
Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that the Spartans’ loss doesn’t change the argument.
“It doesn’t change the premise of the problem, that males should not be participating in female sports,” said Steinmetz. “That’s the bottom line.”
It’s important to protect women’s sports and the hard work of women no matter how small the threat of one male player may seem, Steinmetz added.
“It’s much bigger than one game, one person, one person’s feelings,” she said. “If you’re born a man, you’re re a man.”
Steinmetz authored a petition-style letter that was making its rounds among other Republican state legislators Tuesday, around the same time UW canceled its game.
So far, every school that has canceled on the Spartans has been in a state with a Republican legislative majority, and every team that has committed to play since the controversy surfaced has been in a state with a Democratic-majority legislature — suggesting legislative funding could be in play.
But other chatter indicates some of the Wyoming volleyball players may have been involved in the school’s change of heart.
“Incredibly proud of my daughter standing up for safe spaces for WOMEN to compete!!” wrote one Wyoming player’s mother Tuesday in a public post to Facebook. “Proud of Wyoming, proud of our Cowgirls!!”
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
