SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA. – Volleyball players at a Nevada university have decided to forgo an upcoming game against the San Jose State University volleyball team. However, the university says the game will still go ahead as planned.

The University of Nevada, Reno was scheduled to play San Jose State on October 26th. In a statement, the university said the majority of players sent a statement to the college expressing their intention to forego the game.

“The players’ decision and statement were made independently and without consultation with the university or the athletic department. “The players’ decision also does not reflect the university’s position,” Scott Walquist, communications director for the University of Nevada, Reno, told KTVU.

The University of Nevada also released a statement saying, among other things:
“The University intends to continue the game as scheduled and players may elect not to participate in the game on the day of the competition. No player will be subject to team disciplinary action for their decision not to participate in the game.” –

Reno's draft is one of several in recent weeks and follows drafts by Southern Utah University and Boise State University.

The university did not give a reason for the decline.

“I can confirm that SJSU has been informed of Nevada’s intent to surrender. “We continue to be disappointed that our SJSU student-athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, will be denied participation in competition,” Michelle Smith McDonald, senior director of media relations at San Jose State, said KTVU.

Some people on the San Jose State University campus weighed in on the issue Monday.

“I would accept her. I think it's not a problem that they play sports at all because they are transgender. I support the transgender community,” said Elsa Lillibridge, a student at San Jose City College.

“It’s not fair because men are very different from women in athletics. They are much stronger, faster and so on. This is especially true in volleyball, when a man can hit the ball harder than a woman.” “It's definitely a disadvantage for women on the opposing side,” said Cameron Williams, a student at San Jose State University.

After Boise State's loss in September, Idaho's governor signed an executive order banning the university from competing against transgender athletes.

“We must ensure the safety of all our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness,” the governor said on Twitter.

Earlier this month, the San Jose State volleyball team was undefeated — which raised some eyebrows, according to Dan Zaksheske, a sports reporter for OutKick.com. A teammate reported redshirt junior Blaire Fleming was transgender, KTVU reported Oct. 2.

Fleming's teammate and team captain, Brooke Slusser, joined a lawsuit filed earlier this year against the NCAA over the inclusion of transgender athletes in college sports under Title IX.

Gabrielle Antolovich, board president of the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, told KTVU that previous expropriations represented an attack on equality.

“Title IX is a protection for women. And trans women are part of that protection,” Antolovich said.

While the “majority” of Reno volleyball players sent a forfeiture notice to the university, Walquist said the campus would move forward with play on Oct. 26 and players could choose not to participate. He said no disciplinary action would be taken against the players for their decision not to participate.

Smith reiterated San Jose State's commitment to its student-athletes and equal opportunity.

“We remain committed to supporting all of our student-athletes during this challenging time – including their mental health and physical safety, both on and off the field,” said Smith McDonald.