The athlete, referred to \u201cStudent 1,\u201d is believed to be Blaire Fleming<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cInternal email communications provided by the University indicate the head women\u2019s volleyball coach contacted the Director of the San Jos\u00e9 State University PRIDE Center &\u00a0Gender Equity\u00a0Center to discuss recruiting a male volleyball player (Student 1) for the San Jos\u00e9 State University women\u2019s indoor volleyball team,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n The coach reportedly pondered informing the team about Student 1, but ultimately \u201cdid not want to relinquish decision making power to the women on the team regarding whether a male player would be allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n The coach and Student 1 discussed disclosing the latter\u2019s biological reality to the team (the latter reportedly wanted his teammates to know immediately), and eventually agreed Student 1 would \u201ctell other teammates individually once [he] \u2018knew them better.’\u201d<\/p>\n However, \u201cmultiple\u201d players on the SJSU volleyball team have stated they never were informed Student 1 was a male \u201cbefore spending extensive time with [him] either on the court, in the locker room or in sleeping quarters.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE: Brutal spike adds to controversy surrounding SJSU trans volleyball player<\/a><\/p>\n From the story<\/a>:<\/p>\n Fleming [Student 1] made an immediate impact for SJSU averaging 2.93 kills per set and earning a conference player of the week recognition in 2022. Then, even while battling an injury in 2023 that limited playing time, Fleming improved to average 3.57 kills per set.<\/p>\n The trans athlete\u2019s best season came in 2024, amid the backdrop of the scandal.<\/p>\n Fleming posted a career-high 3.88 kills per set \u2014 ranking second in the entire conference \u2014 and regularly delivered high-volume scoring performances, including a career-best 25 kills in a single match. It came on senior day, in a high-stakes matchup against Colorado State with top seeding in the conference on the line.<\/p>\n Coach Todd Kress (pictured), who took over the team in 2023, \u201cexpressed frustration\u201d with his predecessor (who had moved to Loyola Marymount U.), for \u201cnot checking on Student 1\u2019s well-being\u201d after news broke that he is male. Student 1 reportedly suffered \u201cemotional distress\u201d during his tenure at SJSU and was \u201csuicidal \u2018at times.’\u201d<\/p>\n During the 2024 season Kress said he was \u201cdisappointed<\/a>\u201d other teams had elected to forfeit<\/a> to SJSU rather than play a team with a biological male.<\/p>\n Kress, whom Fox News \u201creasonably believes\u201d is referred to as \u201cCoach 2\u201d in the investigation, was never disciplined<\/a> following Title IX complaints<\/a> against him \u2014 allegedly to avoid \u201cmore media attention\u201d given to the team.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kress-560x367.jpg\")
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