MWC's Nevarez: Heartbroken by San Jose St. volleyball situation

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/mwc-s-nevarez-heartbroken-by-san-jose-st-volleyball-situation/ar-AA1st3d4?ocid=windirect&cvid=a90f1673bcb348c1bd0dadd58e1a46f4&ei=64

ESPN (18 Oct 2024)

LAS VEGAS -- Mountain West Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez said Thursday that the forfeitures that women's volleyball teams are willing to take to avoid playing San Jose State is "not what we celebrate in college athletics" and that she is heartbroken over what has transpired this season surrounding the Spartans and their opponents.

A group of Nevada players issued a statement saying they would not take the court when the Wolf Pack were scheduled to host the Spartans on Oct. 26. The players cited their "right to safety and fair competition," though their school reaffirmed Thursday that the match was still planned and that state law bars forfeiture "for reasons related to gender identity or expression."

All of those schools, except Southern Utah, are in the Mountain West. New Mexico, also in the Mountain West, went ahead with its home match Thursday night, which was won by the Spartans 3-1, the team's first victory since Sept. 24.

"It breaks my heart because they're human beings, young people, student-athletes on both sides of this issue that are getting a lot of national negative attention," Nevarez said in an interview with The Associated Press at Mountain West basketball media days. "It just doesn't feel right to me."

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The reason for the forfeits? While not explicitly stated, the San Jose State team is rumored to include a transgender player. -- Jessica Rose