Draw the curtains.
San Jose State University volleyball player Blair Fleming played in what was likely the last college volleyball game of her athletic career after losing to Colorado State University in the Mountain West Tournament finals Saturday night.
Fleming led the Spartans to the championship game in a senior season overshadowed by a lawsuit from a teammate and a national controversy surrounding Fleming's transgender identity.
Fleming led his team in spiking, forcing four Mountain West rivals to forfeit a total of seven conference games, including the tournament semifinals.
But Colorado State never hesitated to play against Fleming and the Spartans.
The Rams faced San Jose twice in the regular season, splitting the season series, and winning the championship game in three sets to one.
Colorado State's Malaya Jones, who was named the Mountain West Player of the Year, led the match with 26 kills after kneeling during the national anthem before the game.
Jones also allegedly conspired with Fleming to spike a ball into the face of San Jose State teammate Brooke Slusser during an Oct. 3 game, according to the lawsuit and Title IX complaint filed by Slusser. It is held.
Slusser was never spiked in the face, and Mountain West closed its investigation into the Title IX charges, saying it didn't find enough evidence of wrongdoing. Slusser's lawyers have questioned the legitimacy of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Fleming led San Jose State with 17 kills, but also hit poorly, making nine errors in the first two sets, and the Spartans fell into a 2-set-0 hole.
A loss to San Jose State would also mean they would not advance to the NCAA Tournament, which would have sparked further debate over the possibility of playing against a non-conference team.
Boise State forfeited its Mountain West Tournament semifinal game against San Jose State, a decision that could set a precedent for teams in other states with laws banning transgender participation in women's sports. Ta.
Boise State, Utah State, Wyoming, Nevada and non-conference opponent Southern Utah all canceled regular-season games against San Jose State amid this season's controversy.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech, which faced San Jose State in its season opener on Aug. 30, told Fox News Digital that it did not know Fleming was biologically male, adding that if the team had known, the game would have been canceled. suggested that it would not have taken place.
The situation became widely known, and Fleming's presence on the team drew criticism from President-elect Trump on the campaign trail during the recent campaign.
On October 17, President Trump spoke out about the situation surrounding Fleming during a town hall event on Fox News Channel's “The Faulkner Focus.”
President Trump specifically mentioned Fleming and described a video of a player's cleats hitting another player.
“I saw a slam. It was a slam. I've never seen a ball hit that hard and hit a girl in the head,” Trump said. “But other people, even volleyball players, have been permanently, I mean, really badly injured. Women who play men. But we don't have to play volleyball. We… We'll stop it. We'll stop it. We won't get it.”
President Trump has announced his intention to ban transgender people from participating in women's sports if elected. From then until election day, he became a constant talking point at campaign rallies.
He and his Republican allies criticized the Democratic Party's position on protecting transgender inclusion, which has become increasingly unpopular.
A federal judge could have ended Fleming's career sooner, but instead decided to allow Fleming to play in the conference tournament.
Colorado federal judge Kato Cruz, appointed by President Biden in January, denied a request by college volleyball players to block their lawsuit against the conference.
The players are looking to be disqualified for refusing to play against Fleming, and the Spartans will be canceled and their standings will change heading into the tournament. They also wanted Fleming expelled from the tournament.
But Cruz called the plaintiffs' request for an emergency postponement “unreasonable,” saying it “would be disruptive, threaten to derail months of planning, and would at least threaten (San Jose State) and others participating in the tournament.” It would prejudice the team.” ”
Despite the lawsuit, Slusser and the rest of San Jose State played games with Fleming throughout the season.
Fleming finished second in the conference in kills per set with .386, still far behind leader Jones (.457).
Fleming had a defining moment on Senior Day in the season's penultimate home game against No. 1 Colorado State.
Fleming led the game with 24 kills and total attack, and clinched the victory with an ace on match point in the fifth set.
Immediately after the play, Fleming's teammates flocked to congratulate him. Slasher also participated. The group's celebration came days after Slusser and other Mountain West players filed a second lawsuit against San Jose State and the conference over Fleming's presence on the team. .
Now, Fleming, Slusser and other senior teammates will look to life after volleyball.
