Many already knew it was going to happen. With the San Jose volleyball team being handed one forfeit after another, Nevada volleyball was already on the books to follow the same direction. And it wasn’t any different. The trans athlete controversy is blowing up with SJSU’s Blaire Fleming’s inclusion in the team, and the Wolf Pack opted to sit out on their match last weekend because of that very reason, or so many think.

In the days before the match between San Jose and Nevada’s volleyball squads, the authorities of the latter affirmed that the team would indeed face their October 26 (last Saturday) opponents for the Mountain West Athletic Conference. However, the players were not on board with the announcement. Protests erupted as the Wolf Pack athletes clarified that they were not consulted before Nevada put out its statement. Unfortunately, the muddy waters couldn’t be cleared up on time.

Nevada Volleyball refuses to cater to UNR’s commitment

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) made it clear that the college wouldn’t take any disciplinary action against the student-athletes if they chose to sit out on the matcha against the Spartans. While the authorities also noted that the laws and regulations don’t support the players’ decision to forfeit against SJSU because of the identity of one of the latter’s athletes, Reno College seemed to find a peaceful resolution to the matter. However, the Wolf Pack ultimately backed off from the match, citing a different issue. According to an article by ESPN from October 26, the official statement by the Nevada volleyball players claimed they did not have enough athletes for Saturday’s game against SJSU.

To make things more volatile, the venue for the match was changed from Reno to San Jose at the last moment. “The decision to move the location of the match has been made in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff, and spectators,” the official statement explained. However, others believe there’s more than what meets the eye.

Despite the clamor by the volleyball fans for the missed opportunity to witness a thrilling match, the Nevada volleyball team has found support from many people. Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming have praised the Wolf Pack women for their unwavering stance on refusing to play the Spartans. And yet, the Nevada team’s captain thinks the issue isn’t so simple.

The great divide of collegiate volleyball

“When the news broke, I was stunned, as many of my teammates were. This is not what we signed up for,” said Sia Liilii, the squad leader for the Reno team. Liilii told Fox News, “It hurt knowing our university was putting us in a position that could potentially hurt us. My teammates and I were very emotional.” However, she also noted that the players’ concerns were not given any heed by the college and instead college sought to educate the athletes about why their concerns were baseless. “We met with our school officials to give them our team’s new statement, but they wouldn’t even hear it,” the Wolf Pack captain elaborated.

The entire fiasco has sent a ripple across the country’s volleyball circuit. The Mountain West Conference Commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, is evidently saddened by the tug-of-war the sport of volleyball is experiencing currently and stated, “not what we celebrate in college athletics,” in a recent interview. On the other hand, the Spartans’ HC Todd Kress has resorted to unconventional tactics to help her team maintain their spirits.

“This season, we’re more parents than coaches,” Kress said about why this season is different than the previous ones, and the parents of the athletes also stepped forward. What’s your take on the situation that’s making waves in the country’s collegiate volleyball scene? Drop by with a comment below.