Fighting for Women’s Safety, San Jose Volleyball Coach’s Final Verdict on Trans-Athlete Revealed

The transgender athlete controversy surrounding San Jose State University’s volleyball team refuses to die down. After starting their season with a 9-0 winning streak, the SJSU Spartans have hit a never-ending stream of roadblocks surrounding outside hitter Blaire Fleming. Now, Melissa Batie-Smoose has raised her voice days after getting suspended as SJSU’s assistant coach.

Earlier last week, San Jose State responded to OutKick, revealing the assistant coach’s dismissal. The statement acknowledged that the Batie-Smoose was no longer with the team. “We will not provide further information on this matter,” added SJSU. Batie-Smoose also refused to speak publicly to disclose the details. However, she broke her silence on Fox News.

The volleyball coach who joined the Spartans in 2023 spoke about the situation on America’s Newsroom. “Safety is being taken away from women… Fair play is taken away from women. We need more and more people to do this and fight this fight because women’s sports, as we know it right now will be forever changed,” said Batie-Smoose, raising alarm bells.

Melissa Batie-Smoose raised safety concerns, just as Riley Gaines and Brooke Slusser have done before her. Former Kentucky State swimmer Riley Gaines was among the first to raise the issue of Blaire Fleming having an advantage over biological women on the field. Later, Fleming teammate Brooke Slusser raised similar concerns.

However, when asked why she took nearly a week to speak out, Batie-Smoose admitted revealed she was told not to speak to the media. “This is just another form of what San Jose State has been trying to do – silence people that are speaking up,” the SJSU volleyball coach said in a sensational statement. However, this isn’t the first time Batie-Smoose has made such a claim.

Batie-Smoose took action shortly after her suspension as the Spartans’ assistant coach. The veteran coach filed a legal complaint mentioning how SJSU suppressed “expressions of concern.” regarding the Blaire Fleming issue.

The suspended coach joined Brooke Slusser as the second SJSU volleyball member to raise their voice

News outlet Quillette claimed that Batie-Smoose filed a 33-page “sworn declaration” with SJSU, NCAA, and MWC. In her complaint, the coach explained that San Jose has shown “overt favoritism” toward Blaire Fleming. They’ve also worked to suppress anyone raising their voice internally. However, Melissa Batie-Smoose isn’t the only one who has spoken up.

In September, setter Brooke Slusser also took legal action against Blaire Fleming. The volleyball player joined Riley Gaines’ ongoing lawsuit against the NCAA for Title IX violation. “One thing that’s important in this case is really the physical safety issues in volleyball,” Slusser’s lawyer told OutKick about Slusser’s legal complaint.

In fact, the Spartan has also discussed her concerns on Fox News. Currently, five Mountain West Conference Teams have forfeited their games against SJSU. Among these universities, Boise State forfeited both home and away games against the Spartans. Slusser explained how these cancellations have affected the morale in the SJSU locker room.

“We’re just mostly wondering, are teams even gonna play us, period if we go there? Because of just everything that’s happened this season,” Slusser told Fox New Digital. The volleyball player worries things will get even worse next year. However, despite the cancellations, Blaire Fleming has continued to produce exceptional performances for the Spartans.

Fleming currently sits in third place in the MWC with 252 kills to her name. Hence, despite Melissa Batie-Smoose’s complaint adding to the controversy, SJSU currently holds an 11-4 conference record, with their chances of making it to the NCAA tournament very much alive.