The University of Nevada Reno (UNR) women’s volleyball team has become the fifth team this season to willingly forfeit a game against San Jose State University (SJSU) rather than face a gender-bending male player.

The school joins Southern Utah University, Boise State University, University of Wyoming and Utah State University in choosing to take a loss rather than play against opponent Blaire Fleming, who is a biological male.

Unlike the other schools which issued carefully worded statements that did not allude to the gender politics at play, members of the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team specifically cited safety and fairness as the reasons for their decision to forfeit.

BREAKING: @OutKick has exclusively learned that University of Nevada volleyball players were upset when the school committed them to facing SJSU and transgender player Blaire Fleming without consulting the team.

Players voted and they will forfeit the scheduled match on Oct 26. pic.twitter.com/88zACAfXST

— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) October 14, 2024

According to Outkick, the decision to forfeit came after UNR team members took a vote among themselves following a statement from the Nevada Athletic Department on Oct 3, stating that the team would play its scheduled match against SJSU on Oct 26.

Riley Gaines, who has become one of the most outspoken voices for fairness in women’s sports, commended the team for its bravery and willingness to stand up for themselves.

In a statement to Outkick, Gaines said, “When college athletes have to vote on whether to play the sport they received scholarships for, it’s a clear sign that the adults responsible for protecting them have failed. I applaud these athletes for setting boundaries and prioritizing their safety over victory. They’ve shown far more courage and leadership than the president of the university and the President of this country. ”

Sia Liilii is one of the team captains for UNR and she expressed frustration that school officials had released a statement committing them to playing the match against SJSU without consulting with members of the team.

After taking some time to think about it, team members met and ultimately decided to forfeit the match.

Liilii said, “We decided that we’re going to stand in solidarity with other teams that have already forfeited and that we wouldn’t participate in a game that advances sex-based discrimination or injustice against female athletes.”

Outkick reports that it reached out to both UNR and Mountain West Conference officials following the players’ decision to forfeit but had not received a comment regarding this latest development.

The Mountain West Conference has repeatedly said that these forfeits are “institutional decisions” and that they have no plans to change their current policies regarding male athletes who think they are women participating in women’s sports.