Instead of playing San Jose State, Boise State withdraws from the Mountain West volleyball tournament

Las Vegas – Boise State, which boycotted two regular-season games against San Jose State, withdrew from the Mountain West women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday night even though it secured a spot in the semifinals against the Spartans.

San Jose State, which had six forfeit wins because of the boycott from Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and receives a first-round bye. Now the Spartans will advance to Saturday’s championship game rather than take the field on Friday.

Boise State released a statement that read: “The decision to discontinue play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship was not an easy one. Our team overcame losses to earn a spot in the tournament and battled to a win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not give up this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that will serve all athletes.”

San Jose State said it would make a statement on 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 immediately commit to playing San Jose State after the game. It is unclear what prompted the decision to withdraw from the tournament, whether it was a team vote or a university decision.

The title match will likely go ahead as scheduled. San Jose State will play either top-seeded Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State, both of which have played the Spartans rather than sit out this season.

Mountain West members Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada, as well as Southern Utah, have canceled games this season against the Spartans. Nevada players said they “refuse to participate in any match that furthers injustice against female players,” without providing further details.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order on Aug. 28 called the Women’s Defensive Sports Act that challenges how Title IX regulations are interpreted in the state.

“Biological males – men and boys – have physical differences that give them an unfair advantage in competing against women and girls in track and field,” Little said at the time.

A lawsuit was recently filed in Colorado by players from various schools against the conference, and San Jose State officials calling for a Spartans player not to be allowed to compete in the tournament, citing unspecified reports that there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team and even she gave her name.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver ruled on Monday whether a player can play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision next day.

While some media outlets have reported these and other details, neither San Jose State nor the losing teams have confirmed that a transgender volleyball player works at the school. The Associated Press is withholding the athlete’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and, through school officials, declined an interview request.

Wyoming and Nevada did not qualify for the tournament.

Transgender participation in women’s sports is apparently the reason five teams canceled games against San Jose State, and the topic has become a hot political topic ahead of the recent election.

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AP College Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports