In an Oct. 2 announcement, the Utah State women's volleyball team announced it would not compete in a scheduled Oct. 23 match against San Jose State.
The team didn't say why it forfeited but by now everyone knows the reason: a male player, named Blaire Fleming, who in an outside hitter for San Jose State.
AFN previously reported the women’s teams at University of Nevada Reno, Southern Utah, Boise State, and the University of Wyoming have all forfeited their matches against San Jose State to protest Fleming competing on the court.
Kaylie Ray, a co-captain for the Utah State team, told American Family Radio she owes a debt to female athletics for molding her into the young woman she is today. So she believes it’s her responsibility to defend and protect women’s sports.
“I can't sit back,” she said, “and watch opportunities be taken away from other women and especially for future generations, our daughters, our granddaughters.”
Ray, a junior for the Aggies, logged 117 kills last season and recorded 31 blocks, 23 digs, and five assists. She is an Academic All-Mountain West and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete.
Ray told show host Jenna Ellis that a strong male player on the court is much more serious than a young man competing in swimming and track meets. Any athletic man has a performance advantage in any sport, she said, but the risk of injuring a player in volleyball is serious.
“The rate of concussions goes up dramatically,” she warned. “I mean, the angle, the height that these transgender players are attacking at, it's just not comparable to the other women on the floor, and it can lead to some pretty dangerous situations.”
Payton McNabb, a female high school player in North Carolina, was struck in the head by a spiked ball hit by a female-identifying player. The hit knocked her unconscious and she suffered a concussion, and the injuries lingered for months.
That incident, which occurred in 2023, turned McNabb into a vocal activist to keep female-identifying players off volleyball courts.
Ray and hear teammates have likely heard of that incident, and others, involving female volleyball players.
“And so, it's like at what point do we say women are truly being harmed?” Ray said. “This is not okay.”
Ray told Ellis she is thankful for Riley Gaines (pictured at left), the former University of Kentucky swimmer. After competing against a male swimmer Gaines has become a leading voice for women-only sports. She has also become a hated target for her stance, which has inspired Ray to stand up, too.
"The louder you stand for truth," Ray said, "the more people are going to disagree with you."
Editor's Note: American Family Radio is a division of the American Family Association, the parent organization of the American Family News Network, which operates AFN.net.
