San Jose State University head volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended by the school after voicing concerns about a male volleyball player on the female team.
The volleyball coach filed a Title IX complaint about Blaire Fleming, the six-foot-one male who has played on the female volleyball team at the school for three seasons, and spoke to the media about the poor culture created by the athlete. Batie-Smoose also alleged that Fleming conspired with Malaya Jones, a player for Colorado State University, to injure Brooke Slusser, a fellow San Jose State University player who spoke against Fleming competing on the team.
Fleming allegedly left the hotel at which the San Jose State University team was staying before a recent match against Colorado State University in order to meet with Jones at her residence. Batie-Smoose asserted that Fleming then defied instructions from coaches and allowed Jones unhindered opportunities to hit the ball toward Slusser.
One viral video from the match showed Jones blowing a kiss toward Fleming and mouthing the words “thank you.” Fleming also allegedly provided Jones with the playbook for his team.
San Jose State University issued a statement to the media confirming that Batie-Smoose “is not with the team at this time” and that they take “all reports and complaints seriously.”
“The university also has concerns about a number of inaccuracies in the article but is not able to comment further on those in light of those privacy laws,” the statement from San Jose State University continued. “The university has significant concerns about apparent breaches of student and employee privacy and will be addressing those as appropriate.”
At least five rival teams have now forfeited their scheduled matches against San Jose State University. Those teams have been commended by skeptics of males competing in female sports leagues who observe that volleyball can pose increased physical threats to women.
Surveys indicate that a large percentage of Americans believe that self-described transgender athletes should not be permitted to compete in sports leagues opposite their actual sex.
