Boise State withdraws from MWC volleyball tournament instead of playing SJSU

LAS VEGAS – Boise State, which twice boycotted regular-season matches with San Jose State, pulled out of the Mountain West women’s volleyball tournament Wednesday night even after clinching a semifinal berth against the Spartans.

San Jose State, which received six shutouts due to boycotts by Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and received a first-round bye. Now the Spartans advance to Saturday’s championship game rather than take the field on Friday.

“At this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful to those who continue to engage in civil and respectful discourse,” San Jose State said in a statement released Thursday. “We celebrate and support all of our students, including our student-athletes, as they compete for our community this holiday weekend. While we are disappointed in Boise State’s decision, our women’s volleyball team is preparing for Saturday’s match and looking forward to competing for a championship.”

Boise State released a statement that read: “The decision not to continue playing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship Tournament was not an easy one. Our team overcame losses to earn a spot in the tournament field and battled to victory over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday, they should not have to forgo this opportunity while they wait for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”

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. What went into its decision to withdraw from the tournament was unclear, whether it was by a team vote or a university decision.

The title fight will probably continue 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 losing.

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

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

The volleyball player has not spoken about her identity, and San Jose State has not commented on her identity due to federal privacy laws. ESPN is not naming the player.

Wyoming and Nevada did not qualify for the tournament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.