Colorado State women�s volleyball will play in the Mountain West
conference championship game against San Jose State University on Saturday
amid a national controversy that has engulfed the Spartan�s team over a
transgender athlete.

Colorado State head coach Emily Kohan confirmed that the Rams will play in
Saturday�s final at 5 p.m. ET after they defeated fifth-seeded San Diego
State in four sets on Friday.

"It's been a really complex and emotional situation this whole season,"
Kohan said. "And unless you're in those rooms having those hard
conversations and making those hard decisions, I don't think you truly
know how this feels.

"I also think, regardless of your opinion on it, there's some room here to
acknowledge that there's been a lot of young people showing courage all
season long in a lot of ways."

SJSU has been embroiled in controversy this season because of a
transgender player on the team, Blaire Fleming. Several teams have
forfeited matches against SJSU, while Fleming has been named in lawsuits
that include members of the Spartan�s team and staff.

SJSU advanced to the final after Boise State became the latest team to
forfeit a match, this time a semifinal in the conference tournament. The
Broncos� athletic department released a statement Wednesday night saying
their team "should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a
more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes."

WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND
ENRAGING WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUPS

In addition to Boise State, Mountain West members Wyoming, Utah State and
Nevada as well as Southern Utah canceled matches this season against the
Spartans. Nevada�s players said they "refuse to participate in any match
that advances injustice against female athletes," without providing
further details.

But speaking to members of the media on Friday, Kohan stood by Colorado
State�s decision to play in the final.

"This has been far from a regular season. We get an opportunity to play
for another championship tomorrow, but we also are showing some courage to
be the team that says, �Hey, we�re going to go out there and we�re gonna
show courage in the way we play and that this can stop with us.�"

"We're not going to pass these difficult conversations on to the NCAA
committee or any other team to have those crying conversations in the
hotel," she continued.

The final is slated for 5 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Conversation

yokaishinobi
1 day ago

I don't think the coach knows the meaning of courage. Courage is fighting
to correct a wrong. The teams that refused to play SJSU showed courage.
It takes courage to walk away from the opportunity to participant in an
event you've worked so hard for. Curious to know how many of CS players
voiced opposition to their coach.

Freedom51909
1 day ago

The coach is only looking out for her own self interest and that of women
she coaches. I wouldn�t what my daughter to play on team with a coach like
this person.

cmac66
1 day ago

Difficult choice. Your own female team has a chance to win a championship,
they can be proud of for the rest of their lives. Or they can forfeit
"make a statement". Not an easy decision, but I would hope my daughter
would choose personal integrity and support for women in total, over
personal achievement

brock_o_bama
1 day ago

"We are going to show courage in the way that we play."

No, you are undermining those women that did show courage. You are
sacrificing women and taking their opportunities away.

You are going to promote those that either have a mental illness or are
gaming the system over girls that have worked hard their whole lives and
earned this opportunity.

You do it so that the loud people won't yell bad things about you.

It is not courage at all, it is utter cowardice, ego, and a lack of
leadership that allow you to play this game.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/colorado-state-womens-volleyball-coach-
stands-decision-play-sjsu-championship-game-amid-controversy