Boise State forfeits second volleyball match

Boise State University will forfeit a second volleyball match with an opposing team that reportedly has a transgender athlete on its roster.

The university said again little about the reasons for its decision, posting a terse, two-sentence statement on its athletics website Friday.

“Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled home match on Thursday, Nov. 21 against San José State. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit for Boise State.”

The university previously forfeited a Sept. 29 match at San José State.

The university has been tight-lipped about the forfeits. But according to internal emails, obtained by Idaho Education News and several other local and and national news outlets, the athletics department discussed forfeiting the September match because of reports of a transgender athlete on San José State’s roster.

University “leadership” decided to forfeit the first match, Boise State told EdNews on Oct. 18. It is unclear what input Boise State players had in the decision, if any. Several national groups urged Boise State to forfeit the match, according to emails released by Boise State, but the university denied that this lobbying had a role in its decision.

Four other universities have forfeited or cancelled matches with San José State — in a series of decisions that have thrust the volleyball programs into a polarized national debate over transgender athletics.

More about the story from CBS2 News.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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