San Jose State’s volleyball team faces a unique situation in the Mountain West Tournament due to six forfeited matches during the regular season over the presence of trans athlete Blaire Fleming.
With these forfeits, the Spartans secured a 12-6 conference record, earned a first-round bye, and advanced to the semifinals, where they will face a team that refused to play them earlier, Fox News Digital reported.
Utah State and Boise State, both opponents that forfeited regular-season games, will compete in the quarterfinal for the chance to face San Jose State. Boise State forfeited two matches, while Utah State forfeited one and is part of a lawsuit seeking to overturn the forfeiture.
The controversy has created uncertainty about whether the Spartans’ semifinal opponent will actually compete against them. Co-captain Brooke Slusser noted the unpredictability, stating her team is taking things “day by day” amid ongoing disputes.
“We’re just mostly wondering, are teams even gonna play us, period, if we go there? Because of just everything that’s happened this season,” Slusser told Fox News Digital. “It seems like every few days it looks like it’ll be a fine day and everything’s normal and then something else happens. So, I truly do think everyone’s just kind of taking things day by day and taking the punches as they come.”
A Mountain West spokesperson assured that plans are in place for all teams to compete, but if forfeits occur in the tournament, San Jose State could still be named champion and secure the conference’s automatic NCAA bid.
The controversy is further complicated by legal challenges.
Utah State and other plaintiffs have contested Fleming’s eligibility, leading to an emergency federal hearing. Judge Kato Crews, after addressing debates over pronouns and privacy, promised a timely ruling before the tournament begins.
Meanwhile, San Jose State has defended Fleming, stating she complies with NCAA and Mountain West policies and expressed disappointment over the disruptions caused by forfeits.
On the other side of the bracket, Colorado State, the No. 1 seed, is set to face the winner of Fresno State vs. San Diego State, both of which played San Jose State during the season. The unresolved legal and ethical issues surrounding Fleming’s participation and potential forfeits cast a shadow over the tournament’s outcomes.