The Mountain West Conference found "insufficient evidence to corroborate the allegations of misconduct" — namely, collusion among opponents to manipulate an Oct. 3 volleyball match between San Jose State University and Colorado State.
As reported by Katie Barnes of ESPN, SJSU associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose filed a Title IX complaint to university officials, the Mountain West and the NCAA on Oct. 29, alleging that an SJSU player left the team hotel on Oct. 2 to go to the residence of a Colorado State player and shared the team's scouting report. Batie-Smoose alleged that the SJSU player — identified by team co-captain Brooke Slusser as transgender — and the Colorado State player "engineered a plan" to leave part of the court open for the Colorado State player to target Slusser. Another SJSU player who was also present later reported the meeting to coaches.
Colorado State handed San Jose State its first loss of the season via a 3-0 sweep.
San Jose State has since suspended Batie-Smoose indefinitely.
Related: Suspended SJSU Associate Head Volleyball Coach Says School Trying to 'Silence' Her
Upon receipt of the Title IX complaint from Batie-Smoose, the Mountain West initiated an investigation. A conference source told ESPn on Friday that conversations with coaches and involved athletes happened with their respective institutions, both head coaches reviewed match video, the conference engaged a third-party investigator who conducted interviews with players and coaches, third-party volleyball experts reviewed the match video and match statistics, and the conference consulted with its sports wagering compliance partner to vet wagering activity.
Since it did not find sufficient corroborating evidence, the conference is not recommending any disciplinary action and is closing the investigation, the source said.
SJSU coach Todd Kress refuted the allegations in the complaint and subsequent report in online publication Quillette as "littered with lies." He also denied that a scouting report was shared.
"We didn't do our scouting report, and no one had their hands on our scouting report, until the day of the match," he said, as reported by Barnes.
The two teams met again Saturday, with San Jose State defeating Colorado State.
Five opponents have canceled or forfeited matches against SJSU, with those matches recorded as losses for those teams. While not all forfeits were explained, it is believed that the presence of a transgender player on the Spartans' roster is the most likely and consistent reason. Though ESPN chooses not to name said player, AB Today has in its ongoing coverage of SJSU's controversy-filled season cited numerous sources that identify the player as senior outside hitter Blaire Fleming.
