SJSU volleyball eradicated from postseason competition yr after trans scandal

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It was at all times going to be a tough act to follow .

San Jose State College's volleyball workforce was eradicated from making the Mountain West Event with a loss Saturday to University of Nevada , Las Vegas, and completed the season beneath .500 with a 13-16 general report and 8-10 in convention play.

SJSU outperformed expectations, ending seventh within the Mountain West after being anticipated to complete eleventh within the convention's preseason coaches ballot after an argument involving trans athlete Blaire Fleming in 2024.

Head coach Todd Kress led final yr's workforce to the convention remaining however had eight wins, together with the convention semifinal, awarded through forfeit. SJSU beforehand made the convention remaining with Fleming in 2022, the trans athlete's first yr with the Spartans beneath former head coach Trent Kersten.

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The controversy involving Fleming resulted in two lawsuits throughout the 2024 season, a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education and a mass exodus of gamers. At the least seven of the workforce's returning gamers from 2024 entered the switch portal in December after the season ended.

The controversial 2024 season included eight forfeited matches, common police safety, nationwide scrutiny and inside turmoil between gamers and coaches.

Kress beforehand stated the 2024 season was one of many "most tough" of his life. Kress is twenty first in NCAA women's volleyball historical past in wins as a head coach.

"This has been some of the tough seasons I’ve ever skilled, and I do know that is true as properly for a lot of of our gamers and the workers who've been supporting us all alongside. Sustaining our deal with the court docket and guaranteeing the general security and well-being of my gamers amid the exterior noise have been my priorities," Kress stated.

EX-SJSU STAR BROOKE SLUSSER MAKES NEW ALLEGATIONS ABOUT PROBE INTO TRANS TEAMMATE'S ALLEGED PLOT TO HARM HER

Kersten was the coach who recruited Fleming to SJSU as a switch out of Coastal Carolina. Kersten then stepped down after the 2022 season and was changed by Kress.

Former SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser transferred to SJSU from Alabama in 2023

Then, in September 2024, Slusser joined a lawsuit in opposition to the NCAA alleging SJSU officers withheld data about Fleming's delivery gender from her and different gamers on the workforce. Slusser alleged she was made to share altering and sleeping areas with Fleming with out understanding that Fleming was a organic male.

Slusser, together with a number of different gamers within the Mountain West, filed a separate lawsuit in opposition to the convention and San Jose State in November 2024 over Fleming's presence. That lawsuit included testimony from former San Jose State volleyball gamers Alyssa Sugai and Elle Patterson alleging they had been handed over for scholarships in favor of Fleming.

Assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended by this system in early November after she filed a Title IX grievance in opposition to the college for exhibiting favoritism towards Fleming over the opposite gamers, particularly Slusser. Batie-Smoose's grievance additionally included allegations of Fleming's plot to have Slusser spiked within the face.

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Brooke Slusser (10) and Blaire Fleming (3) of the San Jose State Spartans name a play throughout the first set in opposition to the Air Power Falcons at Falcon Courtroom at East Fitness center Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Photographs)

Batie-Smoose's contract was not renewed by the varsity on the finish of January. The coach then filed her own lawsuit in opposition to the Board of Trustees of the California State College (CSU) system. SJSU is one among 23 California-based faculties which are a part of the system.

Batie-Smoose informed Fox Information Digital that SJSU accommodated Fleming with particular exceptions that weren't granted to feminine athletes.

"Not exhibiting as much as follow with no excuses, sitting within the stands consuming whereas follow was occurring, these type of issues," Batie-Smoose stated of the particular exceptions reserved solely for Fleming.

Fleming beforehand responded to Batie-Smoose's declare and addressed Slusser in a social media alternate with Fox Information Digital.

"The one occasions I confirmed as much as follow with ‘no excuse’ and sat within the stands was after I was injured and couldn’t play. Brooke Slusser and Melissa must get a life," Fleming stated.

After the 2024 volleyball season, Slusser fled SJSU after frequent alleged harassment and threats by different college students in response to her talking out in opposition to Fleming and this system the earlier fall. She returned to her mother and father' residence in Texas to complete the varsity yr remotely and is now working as a youth volleyball coach in North Carolina.

Fleming celebrated commencement from SJSU in a social media submit in Might.

The College of Nevada, Reno, which was concerned within the 2024 controversy for making an attempt to have its gamers compete in opposition to SJSU and Fleming regardless of preferring to forfeit, completed the 2025 season in eleventh place with an 8-20 report, 4-14 in convention play.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities reporter for Fox Information Digital overlaying vital political and cultural points in sports activities, with an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited in federal authorities actions associated to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media retailers together with The New York Instances, The Los Angeles Instances, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Related Press and ESPN.com.