SJSU falls in MW final as controversial year ends

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Colorado State beats San Jose State in Mountain West volleyball final (0:18)

San Jose State’s volleyball team, the subject of a national debate about women in sports, was beaten by Colorado State 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 in Saturday’s Mountain West Conference tournament final. (0:18)

Katie Barnes, ESPN.comNov 30, 2024, 07:39 PM ET

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Katie Barnes is a writer/reporter for ESPN.com. Follow them on Twitter at Katie_Barnes3 .

LAS VEGAS — The San José State women’s volleyball team lost its bid for the Mountain West Conference championship Saturday, ending a season full of controversy, forfeits and protests.

Top-seeded Colorado State (20-10) beat the second-seeded Spartans (14-6) in four sets — 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 — to claim the conference’s automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament in front of a sparse crowd of about 200.

Mountain West Player of the Year Malaya Jones led the Rams with 26 kills, 9 digs and 3 blocks. CSU setter Emery Herman, who had 50 assists and 16 digs, was named MVP.

“I’m just so proud of us,” Rams coach Emily Kohan said. “We stuck together through a lot and against a lot of negative energy. We controlled our own destiny, and I think we made a statement in the process.”

Once the ball hit the court for the final Colorado State point, a San José State team that brought energy and togetherness all match scattered after a brief group hug. Coach Todd Kress sat on the bench gazing at his clipboard. Co-captain and setter Brooke Slusser, who is part of two lawsuits about the eligibility of a teammate she says is transgender, walked off the court and into the hallway.

“Our team played their hearts out today, the way they have done all season,” Kress said in a statement. “This has been one of the most difficult seasons I’ve ever experienced and I know this is true as well for many of our players and the staff who have been supporting us all along. Maintaining our focus on the court and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of my players amid the external noise have been my priorities.”

Five teams — including four in the Mountain West — canceled or forfeited games against the Spartans this season. None … Read More