The San Jose State volleyball team concluded a challenging 2024 season on a disappointing note with a loss to Fresno State. However, despite the setback, there was a silver lining for the Spartans. With a conference record of 12-5, they secured a spot in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and remained hopeful of earning the #2 seed.

However, for that to happen, SJSU had to wait for the match between Boise and Fresno State. If Boise State could pull off an upset loss against Fresno, then The Spartans would once again regain their #2 seed. Thankfully for San Jose, Boise State succeeded in defeating Fresno decisively with a 3-0 scoreline. The outcome bolstered what their coach Todd Kress said about his Spartans.

“I know that our last day on the court as a team, when that comes, is not the end of this team’s story,” Kress said after his team closed their season on a loss. Although, Kress didn’t say it the San Jose Volleyball also hinted at his team’s NCAA ambitions after the upcoming MWC Tournament. However, the coast is not clear for the Spartans, as per the San Francisco Chronicle.

Despite San Jose volleyball’s NCAA ambition, the federal lawsuit led by the team’s very own co-captain Brooke Slusser and suspended assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose threatens to halt their progress. During the first emergency hearing on 21 November, things came to an inconclusive end as the plaintiffs sought to prevent alleged trans athlete Blaire Fleming from participating in the upcoming post-season tournament.

Presiding judge Kato Crews ended proceedings for the day, claiming that he would deliver the verdict in a “timely fashion.” However, despite the massive hurdle to their NCAA championship dreams, the San Jose volleyball team is hoping to emerge victorious on the regional stage.

What’s next for San Jose volleyball?

After their loss to Fresno State, coach Todd Kress claimed that the current season will be historic for his team, implying that the Spartans are confident going into the MWC Tournament. “This will go down as the most extraordinary season in the history of San Jose State women’s volleyball,” Kress told the media. The regional tournament starts on Wednesday in LA.

As the #2 seed, the San Jose volleyball will take on the winner of the Boise State vs. Utah State’s quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the now #4 seed Fresno State will face #5 San Diego on the same day. Winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament would be a massive achievement for the team, as it will book them a berth at the NCAA Championships.

If they make it through, Coach Kress and the San Jose State team will face formidable opponents such as defending champions Texas Longhorns, last year’s finalists Nebraska, and other top college teams in the country. However, the looming legal case remains a significant obstacle. While SJSU is cleared to participate in the Mountain West Conference Tournament, losing Balire Fleming would be a considerable setback. With 297 kills this season, Fleming has been one of San Jose’s standout players. Only time will reveal whether SJSU can overcome this final legal hurdle and keep their NCAA dreams alive.