The college volleyball season was further plunged into the debate over transgender athletes this week when a video surfaced of San Jose State University’s Blaire Fleming sending a ferocious spike out of an opponent’s face.
Fleming, a redshirt senior who is reportedly transgender, has been cited as the reason why four schools forfeited games against San Jose State this season due to reported security concerns.
The incident took place on the SJSU campus, with the San Diego State Aztecs leading the Spartans 22-12 in the second set. It was then that Fleming was set up by teammate Brooke Slusser before firing a spike off the face of San Diego State’s Keira Herron.
“Keira Herron has some pink in her hair and her face is starting to look like she’s going to match it as she’s clearly accepted the contact,” an announcer said in the video, which has since gone viral.
Remarkably, Herron kept the game alive, albeit only temporarily before the point finally went to the Spartans. And what’s more, she even laughed afterwards as she appeared to tell a teammate that she was “doing fine.”
Fleming (circled) took a set from teammate Brooke Slusser before spiking the ball
SDSU’s Keira Herron scoffed, but laughed it off and said she was doing ‘fine’
SJSU’s Blaire Fleming (pictured) has not publicly come out as transgender
“I feel a little ashamed when she tries to laugh off that last ball,” the announcer added.
San Jose State would go on to lose in straight sets (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) to drop to 9-2 on the season.
But it’s not the Spartan pedigree in the Mountain West standings that sparked outrage online. Instead, it was Fleming’s presence, which continues to face online criticism.
‘SJSU’s male player, Blaire Fleming takes another punch to a female opponent’s face in tonight’s match with [San Diego State]’, read a message from the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS).
“Come on NCAA, Ban the Man from Women’s Volleyball,” read one comment, of which there were hundreds.
“Taking women’s spots and scholarships is not nice and if they win it is completely pointless because of the benefits,” another commenter wrote. ‘Don’t confuse kindness and honesty.’
SJSU coach Todd Kress addressed the controversy following Thursday’s loss, revealing that the team has received a significant amount of hate mail.
“To be honest, it’s been very difficult lately to focus on what we can do on the field,” he said. mynbc15.com. “There have been outside forces that have tried to divide our team, our university, our conference and our sport. I know it weighs heavily on the players in our dressing room who have worked hard for years.’
When asked about the hate mail, Kress said that “some of it, quite frankly, is disgusting.”
“I’m more concerned about our student-athletes and what they’re getting and how that affects their mental health,” he continued.
“We have an incredible group of young women who are trying to put controversy aside. I just have faith that in the end we can put aside the outside noise and play for each other and find love for each other again.”
Fleming (below left) is pictured with her teammates from San Jose State University
Fleming, who stands 6-foot-1, ranks third in the Mountain West in kills and second in points
ICONS have been at the center of the controversy surrounding Blaire, who was outed as transgender in an OutKick.com article in September. Fleming has been cleared by San Jose State to play three seasons for the SJSU women’s volleyball team, which he will join in 2022.
The Mountain West Conference has been notified by ICONS of athlete safety concerns regarding Fleming, who was named in a federal lawsuit filed by the organization. Slusser, the SJSU player who sparked Fleming’s aforementioned spike, has since joined that lawsuit.
One motion obtained by DailyMail.com claims Slusser expressed safety concerns to school officials. Additionally, Slusser says she was told by the school not to talk about teammates’ gender identities.
San Jose State has so far refused to address the gender identity of its players.
“We operate our program under the regulations of both the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference,” it said in a statement to DailyMail.com last month. “Our student-athletes are in full compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.
“We do not address the gender identity of any student as it is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).”
Fleming, who stands 6-foot-4, currently ranks third in the Mountain West in kills and second overall in points.