Having a trans-identifying male player on the San José State University women’s volleyball team was a very difficult experience, says the coach who was allegedly punished for speaking out about it.
Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended indefinitely as the Spartans’ associate head <a href="https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster#coaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster%23coaches&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734202525036000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2-PJLQPaqeycATYo0prkt2">coach</a> last month, just days after filing a Title IX complaint accusing San José State of showing favoritism to trans-identifying player Blaire Fleming over his female teammates on the volleyball team.
Batie-Smoose, a 33-year veteran of coaching collegiate sports, said that when she was hired at San Jose State, she was not aware there was a trans-identifying male on the team.
&#8220;I moved my whole family across the country&#8221; from Connecticut, she <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySijV0_wRoE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DySijV0_wRoE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1734202525036000&amp;usg=AOvVaw02JYa9sEZy9q34oTgSjJao">told</a> Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on the Tuesday episode of her podcast, &#8220;Unmuted with Marsha.&#8221;
&#8220;And then once we were informed we were silenced and threatened to not say anything,&#8221; she said.
Batie-Smoose is currently suing over the male player along with team co-captain Brooke Slusser and a number of other female players. The plaintiffs, which include athletes from several schools, say their Title IX rights are being violated.
&#8220;That&#8217;s the fight we&#8217;re fighting, and it has to get changed at the highest levels in the Supreme Court, and also so that the NCAA is forced to make those laws and those changes,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;What is the morale of the players on the San Jose volleyball team?&#8221; Blackburn asked.
&#8220;It&#8217;s been very difficult. It&#8217;s very stressful,&#8221; Batie-Smoose responded.
&#8220;A lot of people, and myself included, to even come to work and come to practice, you had to make yourself like, numb because of all the things that were going on,&#8221; she said. &#8220;If you were gonna, just like, make it through that day in an area that you weren&#8217;t being supported, you weren&#8217;t being protected.&#8221;
&#8220;The support was only for one, the biological male, and was not supporting the women, and we were being silenced,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
Safety is a major concern for critics of biological males in women&#8217;s sports.
&#8220;In men&#8217;s volleyball, the net is higher, and men jump higher, they&#8217;re more physical, they&#8217;re faster, they&#8217;re stronger, and that&#8217;s just facts,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
&#8220;That was the concern for the team and the teams that forfeited against us,&#8221; she said, adding that it was also a concern for the teams that did end up playing San Jose State.
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&#8220;There was a lot of teams that behind the scenes were saying they didn&#8217;t want to play us, but then they played us,&#8221; she said.
Several teams <a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-mountain-west-lawsuit-c0ce96934981cade88d91dc1dcc60f66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forfeited</a> a total of six games to San Jose State.
Batie-Smoose said that given the consequences she has faced personally, she understands why most coaches do not speak out.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s very hard seeing what I&#8217;ve gone through for coaches to give up their careers and speak out, even though they 100% agree with what I&#8217;m doing,&#8221; the women&#8217;s coach said.
&#8220;But I&#8217;ve had an outcry of like support behind the scenes and all over the world [from] coaches, non-coaches,&#8221; Batie-Smoose said.
&#8220;This is an issue that we have heard so much about in Tennessee,&#8221; Blackburn said, &#8220;from people that are concerned because they want young women to have the ability to learn how to be a part of the team and play and excel and get scholarships and increase their education, and they&#8217;re very concerned that there will be a loss of that opportunity for girls and women in sports.&#8221;
Female athletes in high school, college, and professional divisions have spoken out more and more against women playing with and competing against men, citing safety concerns as well as fairness in competition.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of Americans now say trans-identifying male athletes should “never” or only “in rare cases” be allowed to compete on girls’ sports teams, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/06/07/us-news/66-of-us-adults-oppose-transgender-girls-competing-on-female-sports-teams-survey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a Los Angeles Times survey from earlier this year.

The Block. Surrounding Possibilities

Suspended Women’s Volleyball Coach Says She Was ‘Silenced And Threatened’ Over Trans Player

Suspended Women's Volleyball Coach Says She Was 'Silenced And Threatened' Over Trans Player

California

Marsha Blackburn

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Women

Women Sports

A trans-identifying male volleyball player will be allowed to continue to play on the San Jose State women&#8217;s team, a judge ruled on Monday, just days before the conference tournament begins.
Federal Judge S. Kato Crews, a Biden appointee, ruled that Blaire Fleming, a man who identifies as a woman, could continue playing after multiple players for other college teams filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Fleming from competing against women, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/us/san-jose-state-volleyball-transgender.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
&#8220;San José State University will continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms. All San José State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports under NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules,&#8221; the school said in a statement to Outkick. &#8220;We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
San Jose State sent a statement to OutKick on the judge&#39;s ruling in the Mountain West lawsuit centering around trans SJSU volleyball player Blaire Fleming: 
&quot;San José State University will continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms. All San… <a href="https://t.co/PXzcizGCB6">pic.twitter.com/PXzcizGCB6</a>
&mdash; Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealDanZak/status/1861142426758373862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
San Jose State is preparing to compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament on Friday and will <a href="https://themw.com/wvballchamp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">play</a> the winner of Utah State vs. Boise State, two teams that have forfeited matches against San Jose State over Fleming being allowed to play against women. A win for Fleming and San Jose State on Friday would put the team in the conference championship game on Saturday.
A total of four teams in the Mountain West and a team in another conference <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fourth-university-womens-team-refuses-to-play-against-trans-identifying-male" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forfeited</a> against San Jose State during the regular season, opting to take losses instead of forcing female players to compete against a man. After Utah State and Southern Utah forfeited against San Jose State last month, Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox wrote, &#8220;I stand with the students, coaches and leadership at @SUUtbirds and @USUAggies in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State.&#8221;
&#8220;It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely,&#8221; Cox added. &#8220;Our female athletes are left grappling with this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports. It’s time for the NCAA to take this seriously and protect our female student athletes.&#8221;
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The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which includes San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, argue that their Title IX rights are being violated as Fleming is allowed to compete with and against them. The lawsuit also alleges that Fleming was given a scholarship over female athletes. San Jose State assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended after filing her own Title IX complaint against the university alleging it was showing favoritism to Fleming, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trans-volleyball-player-accused-plan-harm-teammate-after-taking-scholarship-from-female-recruit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

SJSU v Air Force

Judge Allows Man To Continue Playing On Women’s College Volleyball Team As Postseason Begins

Judge Allows Man To Continue Playing On Women's College Volleyball Team As Postseason Begins

Volleyball

Utah State University has become the fourth college to protect their women’s volleyball team from playing against San Jose State University with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trans-identifying</a> male on the women&#8217;s team.
On Wednesday, a <a href="https://www.usu.edu/today/story/university-announces-volleyball-schedule-update">statement</a> from the school’s athletic department read, “Utah State University will not participate in its scheduled October 23, 2024, volleyball match at San Jose State University. The University will abide by Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded.&#8221;
Former collegiate swimmer and advocate for women&#8217;s sports Riley Gaines praised the move by the school and wrote that it was the “fourth school to forfeit their match against SJSU due to a man playing on the women&#8217;s volleyball team. Major kudos to<a href="https://x.com/USUAthletics"> @USUAthletics</a> THIS. IS. THE. WAY.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A movement is in motion. It&#8217;s becoming increasingly clear that the NCAA has a decision to make. So far, the NCAA has prioritized inclusion over safety &amp; fairness.
Will the <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NCAA</a> keep letting girls take matters into their own hands or will they step up &amp; protect their athletes? <a href="https://t.co/21VHlX5YF5">https://t.co/21VHlX5YF5</a>
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1841856829925527758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
“A movement is in motion,” she added in a second post. “It&#8217;s becoming increasingly clear that the NCAA has a decision to make. So far, the NCAA has prioritized inclusion over safety &amp; fairness. Will the @NCAA keep letting girls take matters into their own hands or will they step up &amp; protect their athletes?”
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox wrote on <a href="https://x.com/GovCox/status/1841671214802338139">X</a> that he stood with “the students, coaches and leadership at @SUUtbirds and @USUAggies in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
“It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely,” he added. “Our female athletes are left grappling with this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports. It’s time for the NCAA to take this seriously and protect our female student athletes.”
On Monday, the women’s volleyball team at the University of Wyoming became the third school to refuse to play against SJSU because of the California school&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">trans-identifying male</a> on the women’s team, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/university-womens-team-becomes-latest-to-refuse-to-play-against-trans-identifying-male">reported</a>.
In a statement posted on <a href="https://x.com/RealDanZak/status/1841229572886364624">X</a> from Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball, the team stated, “After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San José State University in the UniWyo Sports Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5.”
“Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming,” the statement added. “The Cowgirls will host Fresno State on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the UniWyo Sports Complex.”
SJSU’s star volleyball player is a trans-identifying male who goes by the name of Blaire Fleming, OutKick’s David Hookstead previously <a href="https://x.com/dhookstead/status/1840089721877229584">reported</a>.
On Friday, the Boise women’s volleyball team announced that it would forfeit its match over the weekend against SJSU, OutKick <a href="https://www.outkick.com/sports/wyoming-boise-state-southern-utah-san-jose-state-volleyball-blaire-fleming">noted</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/girls-soccer-team-refuses-to-play-team-with-biological-male-following-similar-move-by-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Girls’ Soccer Team Refuses To Play Team With Biological Male, Following Similar Move By University</a>

Teenage volleyball player prepares to serve…

Fourth University Women’s Team Refuses To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male

Fourth University Women's Team Refuses To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male

Boise State

Riley Gaines

Transgender Athletes

U.S.

Women's sports

Wyoming

The women&#8217;s volleyball team at University of Wyoming has become the latest to refuse to play against San Jose State University because the California school has allowed a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trans-identifying male</a> to play on the women’s team.
In a statement posted on <a href="https://x.com/RealDanZak/status/1841229572886364624" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a> from the Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball, the team stated, “After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San José State University in the UniWyo Sports Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5.&#8221;
“Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming,” the statement added. “The Cowgirls will host Fresno State on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the UniWyo Sports Complex.”
SJSU’s star volleyball player is a trans-identifying male who goes by the name of Blaire Fleming, OutKick’s David Hookstead previously <a href="https://x.com/dhookstead/status/1840089721877229584">reported</a>.
Former female collegiate swimmer and outspoken advocate for women’s sports <a href="https://x.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1841235912887345624">Riley Gaines</a> praised the school and wrote on social media, “LETS GOOOO. University of Wyoming is the third school to forfeit their match against SJSU because they have a man on their women&#8217;s team.”
“This is the way,” she added. “Do not comply. Major kudos to @WYO_Volleyball @BroncoSportsVB @SUUVolleyball.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726313279401000&amp;usg=AOvVaw115_qPFFEePDP86-Fvo-Vd">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
Wyoming <a href="https://x.com/GovernorGordon/status/1841234858468917535">Gov. Mark Gordon</a> also praised the move by the school. “I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to forego playing its volleyball match against San Jose State,” Gordon’s post on X read. “It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The University of Wyoming becomes the third school to refuse to face San Jose State in volleyball due to the presence of biological male Blaire Fleming. <a href="https://t.co/vyJgoxn4R6">pic.twitter.com/vyJgoxn4R6</a>
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealDanZak/status/1841229572886364624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
Wyoming is the third school to forfeit its game against the team with the trans-identifying male in order to protect its female players from a serious injury, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boise-state-womens-volleyball-forfeits-game-to-protect-players-from-trans-opponent-report">reported</a>. 
On Friday, the Boise women’s volleyball team announced that it would forfeit its match over the weekend against SJSU, following Southern Utah, which was the first school to refuse to play against SJSU in a non-conference match as part of the Santa Clara Tournament, OutKick <a href="https://www.outkick.com/sports/wyoming-boise-state-southern-utah-san-jose-state-volleyball-blaire-fleming">noted</a>.
“Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled match at San José State on Saturday, Sept. 28,” the team said in a statement. “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Boise State.”
On social media, the team received overwhelming support.
“I applaud @BoiseState for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act,” Governor Brad Little said. “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.”
“Kudos to @BoiseState for taking a stand for women in sports!” Sen. James Risch (R-ID) said. “Idaho’s hardworking, talented female athletes deserve a fair playing field where they can compete and WIN.”
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) posted on X: “The safety of Idaho’s female athletes is paramount to the appeasement of a woke agenda. @BoiseState made the right call.”

2019 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship

University Women’s Team Becomes Latest To Refuse To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male

University Women's Team Becomes Latest To Refuse To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male

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Suspended Women’s Volleyball Coach Says She Was ‘Silenced And Threatened’ Over Trans Player

Judge Allows Man To Continue Playing On Women’s College Volleyball Team As Postseason Begins

Fourth University Women’s Team Refuses To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male

University Women’s Team Becomes Latest To Refuse To Play Against Trans-Identifying Male