'Horrible' moments exposed for UNR volleyball players when they were roped into the SJSU Title IX scandal

Former University of Arizona women's swimming champion Marshi Smith speaks about the Department of Education launching a Title IX investigation into the University of Nevada, Reno for a 2024 controversy involving the women's volleyball team.

In fall 2024, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) women's volleyball team fell under national scrutiny when it was entwined in the San Jose State (SJSU) trans athlete scandal. 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it had found SJSU in violation of Title IX on Wednesday, and weeks earlier it announced that UNR is now under investigation for potential Title IX violations for its handling of a scheduled match against SJSU in 2024. 

Fox News Digital has obtained exclusive details related to UNR's handling of the situation via testimony from those involved, and public records provided by April Chainey, the mother of a UNR player at the time.

On Oct. 7, 2024, UNR administrators sat down its women's volleyball players in a meeting. The purpose was to inform the players that the team would not be forfeiting an upcoming home match against SJSU. At the time, four other schools had already forfeited to the Spartans amid a national controversy involving trans player Blaire Fleming.

UNR players privately expressed a desire to forfeit as well, but informed them that wouldn't be the school's position at the meeting. 

UNR did not have a Title IX officer at that meeting, according to an Oct. 12, 2024 email sent by the school's athletics director, Stephanie Rempe. 

"Our Title IX Officer was not present," read Rempe's email in response to an inquiry by UNR Chancellor Charlton. 

Former UNR women's volleyball captain Sia Liilii called the meeting a "horrible" experience.

EDUCATION DEPT