It’s barely been a week since a San Jose spokesperson told Fox News that they do not foresee further cancellations. With SJSU playing two home games against San Diego and UNLV, it seemed normalcy may return after all. However, that was until the women of the University of Nevada volleyball team went against their institution’s promise to meet the Spartans on the court.

“The school released that statement without consulting our team at all,” Nevada co-captain Sia Liilii told Outkick a day ahead of the Oct. 26 clash. “We, the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team, forfeit against San Jose State University,” read the official statement made after the team members voted. Now, prominent voices are supporting the team’s decision.

“As I’ve said previously, I believe there are competition and safety concerns with this issue. I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players.” Nevada Governor Joseph Lombardo wrote in his official statement. The Governor’s words echoed similar issues that former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines raised regarding the issue.

Gaines was the first person to start the uproar about SJSU’s trans team members. However, several voices have joined the former swimmer, including SJSU Spartan Brooke Slusser. Slusser joined Governor Lombardo on X, in praising the Nevada volleyball team. “Round of applause to the girls of the (Nevada Wolf Pack) volleyball team,” she wrote on X.

Shortly after the retired Kentucky State swimmer raised the issues on X, Brooke Slusser stunned the volleyball world with a lawsuit. The SJSU student joined Gaines’ existing Title IX lawsuit against the NCAA. The Spartan expressed her concern about the physical safety of the women playing with and against Fleming. She believed the athlete possessed superior physical ability.

Since Gaines’ original post, Nevada became the fifth university to forfeit a match against the Spartans. The Nevada Wolf Pack even stated that they stood in “solidarity,” with the four university teams for pulling out ahead of their contests with SJSU. Interestingly, just like the repeated cancellations, this isn’t the first time the governor of a state has stood by such a decision.

An increasingly common occurrence for SJSU volleyball

Governor Joseph Lombardo’s statement was an official and formal show of support for the Nevada Wolf Pack. Meanwhile, the Governor of Idaho, Brad Little, made a similar statement supporting Boise State’s Volleyball’s decision on September 28. “I applaud @BoiseState for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act.” Little posted on X.

“We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports,” added the Idaho Governor. However, just because forfeitures have become a regular thing for SJSU doesn’t make them any less difficult. SJSU coach, Todd Kress, discussed the detrimental mental health effects of the controversy on his team with The National Desk.

“I know it’s been weighing on the players in our locker room,” revealed Kress. The demoralizing effects have also become apparent on the volleyball court. After going on a 9-0 win streak, SJSU has suffered three back-to-back defeats since the controversy erupted last month. Now with Nevada team members refusing to play with them, another official forfeiture looms over their heads. There’s little doubt that SJSU will have a difficult time recovering from these repeated setbacks.