A male athlete playing on the NCAA women's volleyball team faced jeers and chants from spectators demanding fairness in women's sports.
San Jose State women's volleyball lost to San Diego State on Saturday, but it wasn't the scoring that caused the most noise.
The match drew about three times the usual crowd. But many in the audience weren't happy to see SJSU transgender athlete Blair Fleming. Fleming, a 6-foot-1-inch man who was born in Bladen, was sent off five times by opposing teams for his time on the team, and even drew criticism from his own teammates.
Alejandro Avila in Outkick reportedFleming was greeted by a group of fans holding a “Save Women's Sports” banner.
members of the crowd too chanted“No men in women's sports!” When Fleming took the court.
“It's a shame that we couldn't protect women.”
A spectator in the opposing bleachers allegedly tried to silence the fans, but when he complained to security, the security guard on duty cited freedom of speech and said the fans were violating any guidelines. He reportedly said that he had not.
However, SDSU staff seemed to feel differently, and were reportedly on high alert to stamp out any form of “hate speech” that might occur during the game.
That included SDSU Director of Athletic Operations Dave Noll, who confronted one of the fans leading the chant. The fan turned out to be a man named Patrick Higuera.
Noll, accompanied by venue security, approached Higuera and told him he was violating guidelines set by the Mountain West Conference.
The two exchanged words during a heated confrontation.
“It's shameful that you couldn't protect women,” Higuera told Noll.
Protesters at San Diego State University hold signs opposing male players on the San Jose State women's volleyball team.Image courtesy of Alejandro Avila / OutKick
SDSU Athletics released a statement saying staff “are trained to intervene in interactions in the event of disruption, complaints, or reported concerns.”
“Guidelines and policies are in place to ensure a safe environment for our student-athletes, staff and guests,” the statement added.
“Our sporting events are an opportunity to support our teams, celebrate our communities, and set a good example for our student-athletes and guests. Inappropriate behavior, such as rude language, taunts, or unsportsmanlike behavior, will be discouraged. “It does not reflect the values we stand for, it violates Mountain West Conference sportsmanship guidelines, and it undermines the positive spirit of the game,” the statement concluded.
Unfortunately, SJSU failed to adequately protect its female athletes.
Brooke Slusser, Fleming's teammate, said the school has primarily focused on the health of the boys during team meetings and discussions.
“We've had meetings, and a lot of times it's just to check in on Blair. … We're like, 'What about us?'” Slusser told Blaze told the news. “It's mainly just saying you're not the one to identify Blair's gender identity. 'Blair needs to do it herself,' the girls were told.”
SJSU head coach Todd Kress accused his players of making comments against Fleming, according to an assistant coach who has since been suspended.
Kress allegedly filed at least one Title IX complaint against Slusser for referring to Fleming using male pronouns during media interviews. Kress is said to have described this as a threat to trans women's rights.
Cress was asked specifically about these views and whether he thought Fleming should be allowed to play with or against women. However, he did not respond to requests for comment from Blaze News.
Blair Fleming speaks with teammates during a loss to SDSU on Nov. 9, 2024.Image courtesy of Alejandro Avila / OutKick
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