For the second straight game, three Colorado State women's volleyball players took a knee during the national anthem, including one who allegedly colluded with a San Jose State transgender player to injure a teammate.
Malaya Jones and two of her teammates knelt during the national anthem on Saturday, as they did Friday.
Jones allegedly met with Blair Fleming, a transgender player at San Jose State University, received a scouting report about San Jose State University, and conspired with Fleming to harass San Jose State player Brooke Slusser during a game. He is accused of causing bodily harm.
Slusser is participating in a lawsuit against San Jose State University and the NCAA, alleging that he forced Fleming to share living and changing areas and failed to inform his teammates that he was male.
Colorado State head coach Emily Cohan defended the protesting players, saying the trio had been kneeling during the national anthem since their freshman year.
“They've been taking a knee since first grade when the Black Lives Matter movement was happening. This program develops critical thinkers who can decide what's important to them,” Cohan said. . “And for these three Black players, they've been important for five years. And they've said this is what they believe in, and we've all supported them.”
San Jose State advanced to the championship game because Boise State withdrew from the semifinal game against San Jose State due to Fleming's appearance on the team. Boise State also refused to play San Jose State twice during the regular season in protest of transgender players.
Colorado State defeated San Jose State in the Mountain West championship game, likely marking the end of Fleming's volleyball career.
