Fresno State women’s volleyball defeated San Jose State in five sets on Tuesday just days after the Spartans team became mired in controversy with a lawsuit.
The Bulldogs now hold second place in the Mountain West one week ahead of the conference tournament.
Driving the news: Several teams have forfeited their matches against San Jose State this year due to a biological male playing on the team.
- San Jose State player Blaire Fleming is transgender and is now at the center of a lawsuit.
- Spartans captain Brooke Slusser has filed a lawsuit against the university and the Mountain West demanding that Fleming is removed from the team. Several other players with San Jose State and other universities in the conference have joined in the lawsuit.
- San Jose State associate head volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose is also part of the lawsuit. She claims she was suspended indefinitely by the university earlier this month for standing up for her players’ rights.
How it happened: Despite going up 4-1 in the first set, San Jose State responded and went on a run to take the opener 25-19.
- But the Bulldogs answered back in the second on the back of four consecutive aces by Addison Haluska, which propelled them on a 6-0 run to help them claim the second set 25-19.
- The ‘Dogs took the this set 25-21, but they lost the fourth set 25-20, setting up a decisive fifth set, which the Bulldogs won 15-12 to claim the match.
By the numbers: Haluska led the Bulldogs with 20 kills, followed by Ella Rud with 15 and Jenna Legault with 11.
- Rud also had 13 digs on the night as Fresno State’s best defensive player.
- Fleming led San Jose State with 21 kills.
What we’re watching: Fresno State travels to Idaho on Saturday to play Boise State in the last regular season matchup of the year.
- The Mountain West Championship is scheduled for Nov. 27 to Nov. 30 in Las Vegas. The top six teams in the conference will participate.
