Blaire Fleming, the transgender volleyball star from San Jose State, has blocked out the noise from an ongoing lawsuit involving her against the NCAA to set more personal records.
During Saturday’s loss to San Diego State, Fleming hit her 250th kill of the season, a milestone mark in the sport.
It is the second time the outside hitter has eclipsed that total, doing so in 2022, her first season with the Spartans.
Fleming hitting that mark may be more impressive this season as seven of San Jose State’s games have been forfeited by other teams due to Fleming, a biological male, participating in them.
A player-led lawsuit against the NCAA is hoping to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports under the major college banner.
Blaire Fleming continues to set personal records despite other teams refusing to play her
San Jose State has had seven games forfeited by other teams in opposition of Fleming
The NCAA requires transgender athletes to submit documentation, including testosterone levels, before ruling on their eligibility.
By Fleming playing without restriction for the Spartans, she and San Jose State are in full compliance with the NCAA.
That has not stopped other schools from taking a stand, including six conference matches being forfeited. Every contest matters for seeing for the league tournament, with willfully losing a game having major on-court consequences.
Even one of Fleming’s Spartan teammates is taking a stand against her in Brooke Slusser, who is one of the players suing the NCAA.
The drama surrounding Fleming will likely play out for the rest of the season, as all roads lead to the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
The winner of the tournament gets an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, with the rest of the teams likely having their seasons end.
The Spartans’ chances of facing a team in the conference tournament who has already forfeited a game against them this season is high, putting opposition in a spot to go back on a previous stance, or deciding to end their season to not play Fleming.
The lawsuit against the NCAA is ongoing and not expected to be ruled on until after the volleyball season ends.
The Spartans are slated to play 19 regular season matches this year. In 2022, they had 28 with none being forfeited.
