University denies volleyball team’s transphobic forfeiture

A college girls’ volleyball team voted to forfeit a match over the inclusion of a single trans player. Their university said no.

Four colleges— including Utah State University, the University of Wyoming, Boise State University and Southern Utah University—have forfeited volleyball matches against San Jose State University. The wave of forfeits comes after news of a lawsuit against the NCAA for permitting a trans athlete on the SJSU team.

The women’s volleyball team at University of Nevada sought to become the fifth, refusing to play the October 26 match. “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 University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University,”  the team wrote in an statement to right wing sports outlet OutKick. 

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“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.” 

Now the University has responded, denying the forfeiture request and saying the match will go on as planned. “The players’ decision and statement were made independently, and without consultation, with the university or the athletic department. The players’ decision does not represent the position of the university,” SJSU said in a statement per Pink News.

“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 sub-divisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin.”

However, SJSU did state that players can still choose not to participate on the day of the event. “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,” the statement added. “No players will be subject to any team disciplinary action for their decision not to participate.”

SJSU coach Todd Kress commented on the forfeiture campaign, particularly the intense hate speech that has been directed at the team. “Concentrating on what we can do on the court has, quite frankly, been very tough lately,” Kress told local affiliate NBC15 News. “There have been outside forces who have sought to divide our team, our university, our conference and our sport. I know it’s been weighing on the players in our locker room who have put in years of hard work.”

In spite of this, Kress believes the team will persevere. “We have an incredible group of young women who are trying to put the controversy aside,” he said. “I just have faith that we’ll eventually be able to put the outside noise aside and be able to play for each other and find love for one another again.”

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