San Jose State blocks interview requests from Blaire Fleming and others ahead of conference tournament

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The Mountain West Conference women's volleyball tournament is set to begin Wednesday under a veil of controversy, and San Jose State hasn't seemed to improve things.

A federal judge ruled Monday that transgender women's volleyball star Blaire Fleming will be allowed to participate in the tournament, after rejecting a request to exclude the player from the tournament, have forfeits rescinded and adjust the rankings. An emergency appeal was rejected Tuesday.

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Blaire Fleming, #3 of the San Jose State Spartans, waits to serve during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

OutKick reported requesting interviews with Spartans players Fleming, Brooke Slusser and Chandler Manusky, as well as head coach Todd Kress and athletic director Jeff Konya at any time during the conference tournament. However, OutKick was denied.

“We do not plan to facilitate interviews with players or coaches during the Mountain West tournament,” a school spokesperson told the outlet.

San Jose State is the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and has a bye into the semifinals. The Spartans finished the season 14-6 overall and 12-6 against Mountain West opponents. Six of their wins were forfeits as teams decided not to play San Jose State.

Todd Kress, head coach of the San Jose State University Spartans

San Jose State University Spartans head coach Todd Kress speaks with members of the news media following their loss in an NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball match to the San Jose Rams Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado on Thursday, October 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

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Two of those teams could end up facing San Jose State in the tournament. Utah State faces Boise State in the quarterfinals. The winner will face San Jose State but could end up forfeiting. Neither team has faced San Jose State this season, likely due to Fleming's inclusion on the team.

“The team looks forward to beginning Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement Tuesday following the appeals court's decision to deny a motion against the school . “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all San Jose State students and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.”

Neither school has commented on the possibility of forfeiting the game against San Jose State, according to the Associated Press.