Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez has expressed her deep sadness over the turmoil surrounding San Jose State volleyball in a recent statement. She mentioned that the forfeitures from volleyball teams choosing not to play against San Jose State do not reflect the values typically celebrated in college athletics. This season has seen four teams – Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming – cancelling games against San Jose State without citing specific reasons for their actions.
The situation took another turn when a group of Nevada players declared that they would not participate in their scheduled match against the Spartans on October 26, citing safety and fairness concerns. Despite the statement, Nevada’s school administration confirmed that the match was still on and referenced state law prohibiting forfeiture based on gender identity or expression. Nevada is one of the teams in the Mountain West Conference along with the other schools involved in the cancellations.
Mountain West Commissioner Nevarez reiterated her distress over the negative attention both sides of the issue are receiving, emphasising that the student-athletes involved are ultimately affected by the controversy. The cancellations have sparked public statements from Republican governors in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, supporting the teams’ decisions and stressing the importance of fairness in women’s sports.
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the matter during a Fox News town hall, suggesting a ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports based on an incident he referenced involving volleyball. However, San Diego State clarified that reports of an athlete being injured during a match with San Jose State were inaccurate.
San Jose State has yet to directly respond to the political references of “fairness,” and Commissioner Nevarez refrained from delving into specifics, acknowledging that the issue is complex and politically charged. The cancellations could have implications for teams aiming to qualify for the conference tournament in Las Vegas, where the top six schools are set to compete for the league championship.
As the controversy unfolds, Nevada has acknowledged that a majority of its women’s volleyball team has decided to forfeit their match against San Jose State. While the university has the authority to make the final decision regarding forfeitures, players opting out of the match will reportedly face no repercussions. Commissioner Nevarez expressed concerns that the external pressures and political nature of the situation make it challenging to find a resolution that satisfies all parties involved.