San Jose State asked schools for money over 'arbitrary' forfeits despite having a male player on its women's volleyball team



Shocking documents have revealed that San Jose State University asked other schools for financial compensation after they forfeited against SJSU, following reports that SJSU has a male athlete on its women's volleyball team.

SJSU features a 6'1" male — Blaire Fleming, born Brayden — on its roster, which has resulted in five schools issuing forfeits: Boise State, Nevada, Southern Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming.

Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request to Boise State, it has been confirmed that SJSU asked for money from two of those schools over alleged lost revenue from home games.

'I would ask to be made whole at the very least.'

Through the FOIA request, it was revealed that Jeff Konya, San Jose State athletics director, sent an email to Boise State Athletics Director Jeremiah Dickey asking for compensation for its September 28 forfeit.

"Your institution's arbitrary decision not to play an otherwise eligible NCAA team has resulted in harm to SJSU financially and our institution's brand," Konya wrote, according to OutKick.

Konya claimed just over $1,000 was lost when factoring all game-day revenue streams.

"We estimate we missed out on approximately $1,250 in game day revenue by not playing the [match] on Saturday when you add all of the various revenue sources (i.e., concessions, parking among others). I would ask to be made whole at the very least," the SJSU exec wrote.

OutKick confirmed with SJSU that it asked both Boise State and Utah State — who forfeited an October 23 game — for compensation in the same amount.

SJSU did not ask for money from Nevada, Southern Utah, or Wyoming, however.

While its October 26 game against Nevada was moved to SJSU's campus, this was only a formality to prevent SJSU from having to travel to Reno to accept the forfeit.

SJSU staff has remained fairly silent over the ordeal, largely ignoring the issue at hand while claiming the true injustice came in the form of denying their athletes a chance to play.

"I know that it's definitely taken a toll on many of them. They're receiving messages of hate, which is completely ridiculous to me," coach Todd Kress said in mid-October.

"When we had our first forfeit, there was a lot of heartbreak," the coach continued. "And now, we've kind of, not come to expect it, but we know the certain programs that may forfeit. It still does hurt our student athletes when we don't play a match, but I think they've come to accept it a little more, and I think that's a very unfortunate thing to say."

However, SJSU player Brooke Slusser painted a different picture, stating that meetings with school officials have predominantly focused on the well-being of Fleming, not his female teammates.

Over at Nevada, women's volleyball captain Sia Liilii made shocking allegations against her school's athletic director after players organized the forfeit.

Liilii said players were told they "weren't educated enough" on the topic, and "didn't understand the science" behind transgenderism. Liilii also said Nevada Athletic Director Stephanie Rempe told the girls that it was actually Fleming who is "at a disadvantage" when competing against women, due to being on testosterone blockers and estrogen supplements.

In a statement to Blaze News, Rempe firmly denied the accusations made against her and said she did not say those things.

When asked whether or not Rempe believes that men or "transgender women" should be able to compete in the female category of NCAA athletics, a Nevada spokesperson simply said the school "stands by" its statement.

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Nevada women's volleyball captain sheds tears as team forfeits against opponent with male player: 'Not what we signed up for'



Nevada women's volleyball captain Sia Liilii delivered emotional remarks as her team officially forfeited a game against San Jose State University, which has a male on its women's team.

Nevada players had announced their intention to forfeit weeks prior to their game against SJSU, which has a 6'1" male — Blaire Fleming, born Brayden — on its roster.

'This is what bravery looks like, this is what leadership looks like.'

However, University of Nevada officials rejected the players' vote and said the game would go on as scheduled in accordance with NCAA rules and state laws surrounding gender inclusion.

Last week, the match was moved from Nevada to SJSU "in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators," a statement read.

Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

As reported by Outkick, it wasn't until the day before the match — scheduled for this past Saturday — that Nevada officials finally announced a forfeit.

"Due to not having enough players to compete, the University of Nevada women's volleyball team will not play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match at San José State," the school reportedly said in a statement.

Nevada players held a news conference at game time Saturday with the support of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports as well as former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines.

Image source: Independent Council on Women’s Sports video screenshot, used by permission

You can view video of the news conference here. Gaines begins speaking after the 9:30 mark; Liilii begins speaking after the 19-minute mark.

At least nine members of the Nevada team stood on stage during the presser, all wearing shirts that read "BOYcott."

"This is what bravery looks like, this is what leadership looks like," Gaines stated before introducing Liilii. "Certainly more bravery and leadership than the people who are supposed to be protecting them have shown."

Liilii received a standing ovation upon taking the podium, bringing the senior to tears as she prepared to deliver her remarks.

"I never expected to be blindsided ... having to compete against a male athlete," the Hawaiian student began. "When the news broke, I was stunned, as many of my teammates were. This is not what we signed up for."

'We were told we weren't educated enough, and we didn't understand the science.'

In addition to Nevada, four other schools have forfeited against SJSU, however, none have given specific reasons as to why they were doing so. This, despite Fleming's own teammate saying, "We all know the reason."

The Nevada team captain addressed this head on, saying that the "the vague messages" from other schools weren't "directly addressing the injustice" the women were facing in their sport.

She added that her school even made its decision without consulting its own players, the ones who were directly in danger: "We were not consulted, we were not given a voice, and we did not agree."

Shockingly, the athlete revealed that when the team spoke to school administrators, the officials refused to even listen to their statements: "We were told we weren't educated enough, and we didn't understand the science." With that, the crowd in attendance loudly booed.

Blaze News on Monday reached out to the school for comment on Liilii's aforementioned assertion but didn't immediately hear back.

Liilii explained that she and her teammates did not expect to have to "fight for basic fairness" and that they do indeed understand the difference between a male and a female athlete.

She went on to ask the NCAA an open question: "How many young women will have to be beaten, or see their friends get beaten out of an opportunity by a male, before enough is enough?"

Liilii concluded, "Men do not belong in women's sports. If you were born a male, you do not belong in women's sports."

Nevada on Tuesday is scheduled to play Utah State before returning home to play Boise State on Nov. 2; both Utah State and Boise State teams also forfeited matches against SJSU.

On SJSU's schedule, the team lists the forfeited matches as "no contest."

On Nevada's schedule, however, the loss reads "forfeit."

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Air Force Academy forces fan to cover pro-women shirt at women's volleyball game featuring controversial transgender player



Air Force Academy staffers forced a fan to cover his shirt that read "Keep Women's Sports Female" at a women's volleyball game over the weekend that featured a transgender player.

John Kopecky, an Air Force Academy graduate, attended Saturday's game at the Academy. The match was against Mountain West Conference opponent San Jose State University.

The pair firmly told Kopecky that if he wanted to stay he would have to zip his hoodie 'all the way up' so his shirt isn't visible.

SJSU has had a controversial season due to having a male athlete, Blaire Fleming, on the roster. Several NCAA players, including Fleming's own teammate, have spoken out against a male playing against females.

Blaire Fleming, San Jose State University Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

Despite five women's volleyball teams announcing forfeits against SJSU, presumably over the unfairness of having to play against a male, the Air Force Academy decided to play SJSU as scheduled.

According to reporter Dan Zaksheske, Kopecky was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a shirt underneath that read, "Keep Women's Sports Female."

A video then caught a pointed conversation between Kopecky and two Air Force Academy representatives — a male and a female — who told him his shirt is "political" and that they are "trying to keep it comfortable and safe" at the arena.

"How is it political?" Kopecky asks.

"How is it not?" the male replied.

Kopecky told the pair that he had worn the shirt in question just days prior to an Air Force Academy event, and no one took issue with it. He then asked if it would be OK to wear the shirt to other Academy events.

"Can I wear this to the football game today?"

"Yeah," the female replied. "Sir, we know why you're wearing that ... targeted ..."

"I'm not targeting anything," Kopecky reiterated. "I'm coming here to a women's sports event."

The pair firmly told Kopecky that if he wanted to stay he would have to zip his hoodie "all the way up" so his shirt isn't visible.

They then warned him that he may be forced to leave the arena if he unzips the hoodie, at which point Kopecky said if he was removed from the facility, he would halt all his donations and season ticket purchases.

In an interview with OutKick, Kopecky said the Air Force Academy made specific rule changes for this game in particular, including a banner telling fans that no signs are allowed into the venue.

"They brought out a big board with all these rules about fan conduct that may have been there in the past, but I've never seen it [displayed] right at the door," Kopecky told the outlet.

According to OutKick, the school said in a statement that it "takes necessary measures to provide a safe environment at all home athletic events for players, coaches, staff and fans."

In the end, San Jose State defeated the Air Force Academy 3-1, and OutKick said Fleming led SJSU with 10 kills in the match.

Kopecky also echoed a sentiment that many female volleyball players have revealed after playing against Fleming: "Watching Blaire Fleming play ... the jumping ability was just drastically different. It was just like, 'Wow, there's something you don't see every day at a women's volleyball match.' ... [Fleming was] strikingly more athletic than normal."

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Nevada women's volleyball players announce forfeit against squad with transgender athlete, but school rejects their vote



The University of Nevada said its female volleyball players did not consult with the school or its athletic department when they voted to forfeit a match against San Jose State University — which features a male on its women's team — and that the match will go forward "as scheduled."

Blaze News has chronicled the ongoing controversy surrounding SJSU and its male athlete, who goes by the name Blaire Fleming, born Brayden.

'No players will be subject to any team disciplinary action for their decision not to participate in the match.'

At 6'1'', Fleming's inclusion on the women's volleyball team has resulted in four opposing teams forfeiting matches against SJSU: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming.

Nevada appeared to be the next team to throw in the towel after the ladies from the Wolfpack released a statement announcing their refusal to participate in a match that would jeopardize their safety.

"We, the University of Nevada Reno women's volleyball team, forfeit against San Jose State University and stand united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University," the statement read, according to OutKick's Dan Zaksheske.

The statement added that "we demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes."

An outspoken SJSU player, Brooke Slusser, praised Nevada for its forfeit decision.

"Round of applause to the girls of the Nevada Wolfpack volleyball team. Deciding to go against what the school was forcing on you as young women and taking a stand for what you believe takes courage! Another great step in the right direction for women’s sports!" Slusser wrote on X.

— (@)

However, after the Nevada women issued their notice to forfeit, school officials responded with a statement of their own, denying the validity of the team's decision.

"On Oct. 13, 2024, the majority of members of the University of Nevada, Reno, women's volleyball team sent a statement to the University advising the institution that they were forfeiting its scheduled match with San Jose State University on Oct. 26, 2024," the statement read.

"The players' decision and statement were made independently, and without consultation with the University or the athletic department. The players’ decision also does not represent the position of the University," the school continued.

School representatives then cited state law, federal law, and NCAA regulations as the basis for their decision: "The University and its athletic programs are governed by the Nevada Constitution and Nevada law, which strictly protect equality of rights under the law, and that equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin. The University is also governed by federal law as well as the rules and regulations of the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference, which include providing competition in an inclusive and supportive environment."

School officials added that "the university intends to move forward with the match as scheduled, and the players may choose not to participate in the match on the day of the contest. No players will be subject to any team disciplinary action for their decision not to participate in the match."

It was suspected in recent weeks that the Nevada women's volleyball team was considering its forfeit after the mother of player Carissa Chainey gave an interview to the Daily Signal in which she remarked that she is "scared for every single player" who plays against Fleming due to a heightened injury risk.

SJSU has avoided addressing its competition advantage with a male player and has simply listed the forfeits as "no contest" on its schedule.

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With a male player, San Jose State University women's volleyball is having its best season ever



The women's volleyball team at San Jose State University remained undefeated and is now 6-0 following its latest victory.

The team is off to its best start in program history, according to OutKick, and continued its hot streak with a 3-2 win over fellow NCAA Division I Santa Clara.

The team is led by biological male Blaire Fleming, who is listed on the team website at 6'1''.

However, for the first time this season, Fleming was not included in the match's postgame recap:

"Three Spartans recorded double-doubles and the Spartans recorded a season-best 18 blocks as the San José State volleyball team stayed undefeated on the season with a 3-2 (25-13, 23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-11) win at Santa Clara Sunday inside the Leavey Center," the recap read.

The recap noted that players Nayeli Ti'a and Brooke Slusser recorded double-doubles in the game but didn't mention that the transgender athlete was the other player to do so.

'Fleming might just be the most impressive athlete on the floor.'

SJSU disabled comments on its X post celebrating the victory, which featured a highlights package from the match. The video did not show any clips of No. 3 Fleming.

Another clip from the game featured commentary from an announcer who noted that "Fleming might just be the most impressive athlete on the floor."

It has been known for months that SJSU has had the unfair advantage, but Fleming's identity had previously flown under the radar. An April 2024 report from Reduxx revealed Fleming was allegedly born as Brayden, and his biological sex was being withheld from his teammates and opponents.

The mother of an opposing player spoke to the outlet and said that her daughter had heard rumors of SJSU using a male player.

"I first watched my daughter play Blaire via live stream and then in person for a second match," the mother said. "My daughter mentioned to me before the second match that there were rumors about Blaire being a male."

When attending a game in-person, the mother said she could immediately tell that Fleming was male, both in appearance and the way he played.

"He jumped higher and hit harder than any woman on the court. There was no other female athlete on the court that day that could compare with Blaire's athleticism. He also had very narrow hips. I took notice of how he was dressed with a longer shirt in the front as well."

The parent also claimed that her daughter suffered far more physical strains during that match and that her teammates were struggling to deal with the velocity of Fleming's strikes.

It should also be noted that there is an obvious advantage for male players in the female version of the sport; the men's net in college volleyball is 7'11", while the women's net is 7'4".

The ladies from Southern Utah were recently slated to play against SJSU, however, reports surfaced that the team told tournament officials they did not want to play against the undefeated team.

It was not confirmed if Fleming was the reason for the cancellation, though.

Women's volleyball has been ripe with transgender controversy in places like California, Florida, and even Canada where five male athletes played in a single women's college game.

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Cops protect Jewish professor as students hysterically underscore 'Zionists are not welcome' at San Jose State University



Dr. Jeffrey Blutinger, a professor of Jewish studies and history, was invited to San Jose State University to give a talk Monday about "finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

The prospect of a Jewish academic speaking freely about bringing an end to the war initiated by Hamas terrorists was evidently too much for anti-Israeli students on campus. Calling for "intifada," the radicals successfully shut down the talk, prompting police to escort the professor to safety.

KRON-TV reported that Blutinger, who teaches at California State University, Long Beach, intended to give a lecture titled, "Constructing a Just Solution: Where Israelis and Palestinians Go From Here." The talk was reportedly sponsored by a grant from Jewish Silicon Valley and hosted by the SJSU Jewish Studies Program.

Had the lecture not ultimately been censored by the hateful mob, Blutinger planned to discuss both "the road to the present situation" as well as "possible paths forward."

— (@)

Demonstrators reportedly blocked entrances and stressed that "Zionists are not welcome" at the taxpayer-funded university.

A memo from the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise obtained by the College Fix indicated that the event was initially "moved to a different location, but within 20 minutes of the lecture starting, the protests grew too large [and Blutinger] had to stop speaking and leave via police escort for safety concerns."

The Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area indicated on X that the "intimidation tactics employed against a Jewish speaker are deeply troubling."

Footage of the protest shows demonstrators wearing Palestinian scarfs clashing with police and screaming as the professor was whisked away. Other demonstrators, similarly hiding their faces, can be seen chanting "intifada" — an Arabic term frequently used to denote "getting rid of" Israel — while holding signs that said, "Ceasefire now," "Free Palestine," and "No justice, no peace."

Earlier today at @SJSU, a planned protest against guest speaker Prof. Jeffrey Blutinger's talk on achieving peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution escalated into violence. Protestors obstructed entrances, called for "intifada," and clashed with law enforcement.\u2026
— (@)

Blutinger suggested it was unfortunate the radicals deprived students of an opportunity to learn, reported the Spartan Daily, a campus paper. The professor further stressed that the mob's successful censorship efforts amounted both to bigotry and an affront to academic freedom.

"They don't want Jews to speak," said Blutinger. "I think it's anti-Semitism."

"[Blutinger] tried to justify peace moving forward," Suhila Bennett, a radical amongst the protesters, told the Spartan Daily. "We want liberation, not to shake hands with our occupiers (or) to live neighboring with our colonizers."

The Palestine, Arab and Muslim Caucus of the California Faculty Association joined other extremists in denouncing Blutinger this week, calling him a "genocide-denier" in an Instagram post with the hash-tags "#fromtherivertothesea" and "freepalestine."

SJSU officials indicated no one was injured and no arrests were made, reported KRON.

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