Amid allegations of conspiracy with the controversial male player, one women’s college volleyball player renewed a tired protest on the road to the final.
For weeks, athletes from the Mountain West Conference have been taking a stand against NCAA women’s volleyball for allowing San Jose State University to compete with male player, Blaire Fleming. Friday, as player of the year Malaya Jones of Colorado State University had been accused of planning an in-game attack against an opposing player, she and two teammates revived anthem kneeling.
Pictured in an image shared by Outkick’s Dan Zaksheske, Kennedy Stanford and Naeemah Weathers kneeled alongside Jones during the national anthem before the semifinal against San Diego State University.
Colorado State denied OutKick’s request to speak with the players who knelt during the National Anthem prior to win over San Diego State. pic.twitter.com/jmmBhp7ko2
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) November 29, 2024
“We’re not going to comment on that,” a CSU spokesperson told Outkick as the reason for the protest was not readily apparent.
What was known was how Jones had been named in court documents that alleged she had conspired with Fleming to target SJSU’s Brooke Slusser for speaking out against having a male on her own team.
Fox News Digital noted that one Title IX complaint filed on Oct. 29 by the since-suspended SJSU assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose had alleged Jones sought to spike the ball into Slusser’s face during their Oct. 3 match.
A separate lawsuit quoted SJSU player Chandler Manusky who said she and other players, including Fleming, had violated team rules and snuck out of their hotel the night before they were scheduled to play Colorado State.
“Manusky said that at Jones’ residence Fleming had shared with Jones the scouting for the CSU-FC game, and they had discussed ‘throw[ing] the game’ and how they would set up Jones to ‘blow up’ Slusser and ‘blast’ her in the face during the game,” read the court documents.
Slusser had previously expressed how she had not only been made to play with a male athlete on the women’s volleyball team but that she had been tricked into “living with a man” when she’d transferred to SJSU her junior year.
“If this was me, and I was the one threatening to do this to my teammate who’s caused so much commotion, there would have been action taken immediately,” the team co-captain had told Fox News Digital during a separate interview. “I was definitely very angry, and I was glad at first to know that it was already made aware to the coaching staff and compliance and everyone, but I don’t know if that made me feel any differently. I was just angry because I didn’t think someone would go to these lengths.”
“Threatening to want to hurt one of your own teammates, I just feel like there’s so many things in that whole conversation that would make a school want to get it dealt with,” added Slusser.
On the investigation, which had been closed without the issuance of discipline, CSU head coach Emily Cohan had said to Outkick, “I have no comment on that beyond [saying] the Mountain West investigated that and deemed that there was no competitive improprieties.”
Colorado won their match Friday and is set to take on SJSU in the final Saturday after Boise State became the latest team to forfeit their match against the Spartans.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) released a statement on the forfeiture and said, “It is unfortunate our women athletes must choose fairness in their sport and their own safety over their ability to play in a match-up they earned. Even with their biggest game of the season on the line, the Boise State women’s volleyball team has consistently shown leadership for female athletes everywhere. Idaho will continue to fight to defend women’s sports.”
Meanwhile, heavy criticism was brought against the protesting CSU players in contrast to the lauding for Boise State.
The Boise State women’s volleyball team serves as an inspiration to us all on the importance of standing up for what is right. Idaho will continue to lead the fight in defending women’s sports! pic.twitter.com/iCRVmgJW8t
— Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) November 29, 2024
Shame on the Colorado State volleyball players. These girls have absolutely zero to protest. Ask them a question, why? You will get gibberish from them. Colorado State alumni, something more to be not proud about.
Now Boise State, that’s a group of courageous girls.…
— Andre L. Wilson (@Uberdad88) November 29, 2024
It’s not a protest if no one knows what they are protesting.
It’s just #VirtueSignaling.— Your Independent Voice (@electbarnhill) November 29, 2024
Complete joke that those girls can’t play at Boise St. This MAN should not be able to play.
— WickedAfterlife (@WAServers) November 29, 2024
Boise State women’s team are strong of character and morals
— DV (@DvVd100) November 30, 2024
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Author: Kevin Haggerty
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