Boise State pulls out of Mountain West volleyball tournament instead of playing San Jose State amid boycott

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 suffered six forfeits due to boycott from the Mountain West opponents, is seeded second in the conference tournament and received a first-round bye. Now the Spartans advance all the way to Saturday’s championship game rather than take the field on Friday.

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.”

The statement 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 more of a university decision.

The title fight is likely to 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 sitting out.

San Jose State was expected to release a statement following Boise State’s announcement.

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 stated that 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 calling for a Spartans player to be barred from the tournament, citing unspecified reports claiming there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team , who even named her.

American judge S. Kato Crews in Denver ruled on Monday that the player is allowed to play and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the following day.

While some media outlets have reported these and other details, neither San Jose State nor the losing teams have confirmed that the school has a transgender volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’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.

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

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