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Nevada joins other schools in forgoing NCAA volleyball games

Posted on by Vanessa
Nevada joins other schools in forgoing NCAA volleyball games

Nevada has forfeited its Mountain West Conference women's volleyball game against San Jose State, two days after the game was postponed because of concerns that Wolf Pack players would not show up.

Nevada played at Fresno State on Thursday night. Instead of traveling to San Jose State for Saturday's game, the school announced that the contest was canceled “because there are not enough players to compete.”

“Per Mountain West Conference policy, the game will be considered a conference loss for Nevada,” the school said in its statement.

Nevada volleyball captain Sia Liilii told the Reno Gazette Journal on Oct. 15 that the team would not play against San Jose State following reports that a transgender player was on the Spartans' team. The woman played for San Jose State in previous seasons and there were no issues with her participation until right-wing activists got involved in recent months.

Nevada initially said the school couldn't legally forfeit its game against San Jose State, citing state law that prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity or expression.” But the school also said it wouldn't punish players who didn't want to play, leaving open the possibility that the Wolfpack wouldn't have the required minimum six players.

San Jose State has not commented on the gender of any player on its team and said it follows all NCAA and Mountain West Conference guidelines.

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As of Monday, San Jose State still planned to travel to Reno for Saturday's game. But on Tuesday, the schools issued a joint statement saying the game would be moved to San Jose and the Mountain West had agreed to the move. This was seen as a way for Nevada to avoid having to pay San Jose State's travel expenses for a game that likely would not take place, while also protecting Spartans players from possible abuse and harassment.

“The decision to move the game's venue was made in the best interests of both programs and for the well-being of student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators,” the schools said in their statement.

Nevada is the fifth school to lose a game to San Jose State this season, joining Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State. All but southern Utah are in the Mountain West. None of the other schools have given a specific reason, although it is believed to be the possibility that there is a transgender player at San Jose State. Schools also haven't explained why it's a problem now while it hasn't been the case in previous seasons.

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