LAS VEGAS — Mountain West Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez said Thursday the forfeitures that women's volleyball teams are willing to take to avoid playing San Jose State is «not what we celebrate in college athletics» and that she is heartbroken over what has transpired this season surrounding the Spartans and their opponents.
Four teams have canceled games against San Jose State: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State and Wyoming, with none of the schools explicitly saying why they were forfeiting.
A group of Nevada players issued a statement saying they would not take the court when the Wolf Pack were scheduled to host the Spartans on Oct.
26. The players cited their «right to safety and fair competition,» though their school reaffirmed Thursday the match was still planned and that state law bars forfeiture «for reasons related to gender identity or expression.» All of those schools, except Southern Utah, are in the Mountain West.