The New Mexico volleyball team is determined to focus on winning their Thursday night match, but ignoring the surrounding controversy may prove challenging.
San Jose State is set to face the Lobos at 6:30 p.m. in a Mountain West matchup at the Johnson Center. The Spartans have been at the center of controversy following allegations that one of their players is transgender.
Three Mountain West schools—Boise State, Wyoming, and Utah State—have chosen to forfeit their matches against San Jose State, along with nonconference opponent Southern Utah, which was the first team to forfeit. None of these schools has publicly explained their decision to forfeit.
Players from Nevada, a Mountain West member, voted to forfeit their match against San Jose State, but the decision was overruled by the school. Wolf Pack players will not face any consequences if they decide to skip the October 26 game.
Other conference teams like Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and UNLV have played San Jose State as scheduled, and New Mexico plans to do the same.
UNM coach Jon Newman-Gonchar acknowledged the situation, stating that his team is aware of the controversy but is focused on volleyball. “It’s getting a lot of attention,” he said. “Our players and coaches have had a lot of discussions about this match. I don’t know how it will turn out, but we play in the Mountain West, and both the Mountain West and NCAA certify players. As long as we’re scheduled to play a team with certified players, we’re staying focused on volleyball and trying to win.”
So far, the Mountain West has allowed individual schools to decide on competition, counting forfeits as wins for San Jose State. The Spartans have a 9-3 overall record and are 4-3 in conference play, with a 1-3 record in Mountain West matches not decided by forfeits.
These forfeits could have a major impact, as only the top six teams qualify for the postseason Mountain West tournament. New Mexico (9-7, 2-4), which has had several close matches, is scheduled to face San Jose State twice—on Thursday and again on November 2 in San Jose, California.
“Our goal is to keep improving,” Newman-Gonchar said. “The only way to do that is by playing. We’ve faced essentially the same San Jose State team for three years, and this year is no different.”
On Wednesday, New Mexico state Representatives Jenifer Jones (R-Deming) and Andrea Reeb (R-Clovis) shared their thoughts, both issuing statements commending the teams that chose to forfeit matches against San Jose State.
“I am deeply disappointed that the University of New Mexico has decided to jeopardize the safety of our female athletes by going ahead with the volleyball match against San Jose State,” Reeb expressed.
The ongoing controversy has drawn national attention, partly due to a lawsuit filed by activist Riley Gaines against the NCAA, aiming to prevent transgender athletes from participating in sanctioned women’s sports. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) recently sent a letter to Mountain West schools, including UNM, urging them to “protect” their players from competing against San Jose State.
ICONS identifies San Jose State’s redshirt senior Blaire Fleming as the transgender athlete in question.
This marks Fleming’s third season playing for the Spartans. With Fleming on the roster, San Jose State finished 13-18 (4-14 MW) in 2023 and 21-9 (14-4 MW) in 2022. Fleming previously played at Coastal Carolina as a freshman.
Standing 6-foot-1, Fleming, an outside hitter, leads the Spartans in kills and ranks fourth in blocks.
San Jose State has affirmed that all its athletes are “in full compliance” with NCAA rules and regulations, without further addressing the controversy.
SJSU player Brooke Slusser, a teammate of Fleming, has joined Gaines’ lawsuit and voiced her support for teams that forfeit matches against San Jose State.
NOTES: UNM has faced many close matches in Mountain West play this season, with mixed outcomes. Eighteen of the Lobos’ 24 sets in conference play have been decided by two points, with eight going to deuce points. UNM holds a 9-9 record in sets decided by two points.
“We’ve played a lot of close ones and been in position to win,” Newman-Gonchar said. “The fight has been there — along with a lot of cardiac arrhythmia for the coaching staff. We’ve just got to do a better job closing.”
UNM will play its next three matches at home, hosting Fresno State on Saturday (1 p.m.) and Colorado State on Oct. 24 (6:30 p.m.).