BBoise State, which twice boycotted regular-season games with San Jose State, withdrew from the Mountain West women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday night even after securing a spot in the semifinals against the Spartans.
San Jose State, which has six forfeit victories due to boycotts of Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and received a bye in the first round. Now the Spartans will advance to Saturday’s championship game, instead of taking the field Friday.
Boise State released a statement saying: “The decision not to continue playing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one. 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 should not pass up this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
San Jose State said they would make a statement Thursday.
Boise State’s announcement came hours after the Broncos defeated Utah State 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23 in the quarterfinals.
Boise State did not commit to playing San Jose State immediately after the game. What went into the decision to withdraw from the tournament was unclear, whether it was by a team vote or more of a university decision.
The title match will likely go ahead as planned. San Jose State will play either top-seeded Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State. Both teams played the Spartans this season instead of sitting out.
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 stated that 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 calls into question how 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.
Recently, a lawsuit was 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, citing unspecified reports claiming that there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team. , and even mentioned her.
U.S. Magistrate Judge S Kato Crews in Denver ruled Monday that the player can play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the next day.
Although some media outlets have reported these and other details, neither San Jose State nor the teams that paid the fine have 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.
Wyoming and Nevada did not qualify for the tournament.
The participation of transgender women in women’s sports is apparently the reason why the five teams canceled their games against San Jose State, and the topic became a hot political topic ahead of the recent election.