Inside UNR’s scandalous involvement in the SJSU trans volleyball scandal

In the fall of 2024, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) women’s volleyball team came under national scrutiny when it became involved in the San Jose State (SJSU) transgender athlete scandal.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced Wednesday that it had found SJSU to be in violation of Title IX, and weeks ago announced that UNR was under investigation for possible Title IX violations for its officiating of a scheduled game against SJSU in 2024.

Fox News Digital obtained exclusive details about how UNR handled the situation through statements from those involved and public records provided by April Chainey, the mother of a UNR player at the time.

UNR had no Title IX officer at critical meeting

On October 7, 2024, UNR administrators sat their women’s volleyball players in a meeting. The goal was to let the players know that the team would not lose its home game against SJSU. At the time, four other schools had lost to the Spartans amid a national controversy involving transgender player Blaire Fleming.

UNR players also privately expressed their desire to be defeated, but informed them that would not be the school’s stance at the meet.

UNR did not have a Title IX officer present at that meeting, according to an Oct. 12, 2024 email sent by the school’s athletic director, Stephanie Rempe.

“Our Title IX Officer was not there,” Rempe’s email read in response to an inquiry from UNR Chancellor Charlton.

Former UNR women’s volleyball captain Sia Liilii called the meeting a “terrible” experience.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INITIATES 18 TITLE IX REVIEWS AFTER SCOTUS HEARD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS

“This meeting was terrible,” Liilii told Fox News Digital.

“It happened after the school had decided to make a choice for us, and it was uncomfortable. They told us Blaire had no advantage because she was on estrogen and testosterone blockers to level the playing field. A group of girls and I expressed that we did not want to play because of safety, fairness and the fact that the opportunity for women in sports was being taken away from them by a male athlete. Instead of supporting this decision, we were told that if we wanted to perhaps reconsider, we should consider all the ‘facts’ first.”

“It was very concerning that at this meeting the title of IX officer was absent and we were given a lot of ‘facts’ that were not supported by facts.”

Chainey said she was “traumatized” as a mother. So she filed a Title IX complaint with ED’s Office of Civil Rights.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Chainey told Fox News Digital.

“The UNR Athletic Department discriminated by not recommending or offering to have a Title IX official present… I was angry, really angry. I felt there was no one to protect the teams and players… they actually fired [the player’s voices] because their voices did not fit the NCAA gender ideology agenda…

“I was disgusted to see this happen.”

UNR warns players of possible ‘legal trouble’ if they don’t play at SJSU, and witness alleges ’emotional blackmail’

After UNR announced it would play SJSU in October, Wolfpack players did not hold back.

They went public with their intention not to play the game.

The school had a national controversy as volleyball season continued.

Marshi Smith, a former NCAA swimmer and co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), is a Nevada resident and also leads the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s task force on the preservation of women’s sports. During that season, UNR players reached out to him to share the treatment they allegedly received at the university while trying to escape their game against SJSU.

“The girls on UNR’s volleyball team were given extensive intimidation to reverse their decision not to play at San Jose State University. There were many different tactics, from emotional blackmail to insinuations that legal disputes might be brought up,” Smith said.

“It wasn’t clear to them exactly what that meant. But when someone in a position of authority threatens you with consequences for standing up for your rights, that’s something really serious.”

UNR previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that it had raised concerns that there could be “legal issues” if players did not play the match.

SJSU VOLLEYBALL TEAM COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IN THE FIRST SEASON AFTER THE TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL

“University administrators met with the Nevada volleyball team and discussed scenarios of what might happen if they chose not to play. One of the scenarios discussed revolved around potential legal issues regarding violations of the Nevada Constitution,” UNR said in a statement last January.

The state’s constitution was revised in 2022 when Democratic lawmakers passed the Equal Rights Amendment, which added gender identity to the list of diversity classifications protected under state law.

UNR athletics staff ‘concerned’ about players interacting with Riley Gaines and conservative lawmakers

UNR had a national media mine on its hands after players publicly announced their intention not to play at SJSU in October.

During media requests and correspondence about the interview, UNR Vice President of Strategic Communications Aaron Juarez told Rempe he had “concern” about players meeting with conservative influencer Riley Gaines and Idaho lawmakers for photo ops.

Nevada Wolf Pack women’s volleyball players with Sam Brown and Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown Campaign)

“My main concern is not the media talking to Shannon, but Idaho legislators and other types (e.g., Idaho Freedom Foundation) reaching out to Shannon. [redacted] and photo shoots etc with or with any of our actors. Players who have linked up for. Or that our team is wearing these jerseys from Riley Gaines,” he wrote.

The cast ultimately stars Gaines and others, including Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Senate candidate and military veteran Sam Brown, and Sen. They met and posed for photos with GOP politicians, including Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

GOP Senate candidate Sam Brown (left) poses with Nevada’s Sia Liilii (center right) and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown Campaign)

‘Next steps in transgender education’ on UNR athletics agenda

An Oct. 24 email from Rempe to Senior Deputy Athletic Executive Director Casey Stangel outlining the UNR athletics department’s upcoming priorities lists “Next steps transgender education” as the endpoint.

Fox News Digital has reached out to UNR to request clarification on why this issue is trending and what the next steps are.

The match was never played and the season was a failure

In its public communications, the university stated that players would be free to not attend the SJSU game without any consequences.

The game was ultimately moved from Nevada to San Jose just days before October 26, 2024. Then, just one day before the game, UNR announced they would forfeit because there were not enough players willing to compete.

The team then finished the season with a 1-7 mark and fell well outside the postseason picture with a 12-17 mark.

“This had a very negative impact on our team’s morale. It was a huge distraction and took us away from what we were there to do, which was to play volleyball. Being in and out of meetings and being asked questions about outside events really confused us,” Liilii said.

For Liilii, the impact of this situation was even reflected in her personal life.

“As for personal life, I can say for myself that I have lost friends because I was a vocal part of this issue. It’s unfortunate, but I strongly believe that this is not right and something I could not remain silent about at the time,” he said.

Chainey said his daughter’s team’s morale was “terrible” and he was “infuriated” that the team had to take the loss.

“It’s very frustrating that they got penalized like that, because they shouldn’t have gotten a loss, they shouldn’t have gotten a loss, because it reflected in their rankings,” Chainey said.

“These young female adults are being bullied.”

Things didn’t get any better for UNR in 2025, falling to last place in the Mountain West conference with an 8-20 mark and now facing a federal investigation in 2026.

Meanwhile, Liilii moved on and started playing professional volleyball outside the country.

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“My professional volleyball career has been fun. I just completed a season in Kosovo and will be moving to play in Germany in 2026. My participation did not hinder anything, but I was asked about the situation and why I felt so strongly about this issue. I learned that this issue has a lot of support from women in other countries,” Liilii said. he said.

Now Liilii, Chainey and Smith await anticipated results from the federal government on SJSU and UNR.

Meanwhile, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is doing his part to prevent similar situations from occurring in his state.

Lombardo announced in early January that he was spearheading a petition to amend the Nevada Constitution to keep transgender athletes out of girls’ and women’s sports.

The proposed ballot initiative would require the state and other entities that receive public funds, such as schools, colleges or local athletic programs, or the entities that administer them, to classify each sport or competition as male, female or coed/mixed gender.

UNR’s response

UNR released a statement to Fox News Digital addressing all of the above findings and statements.

“The University has received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and has responded appropriately through appropriate legal and administrative channels.

“The University is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and respectful campus environment for all of our students. We recognize and maintain our responsibilities under state and federal laws, including the U.S. and Nevada Constitutions. The University also continues to comply with the rules and regulations of the Mountain West Conference and the NCAA.

“As stated in the document University’s statement dated October 17, 2024The administration stated that the University supports players’ right to choose not to participate, and that any member of the Wolf Pack women’s volleyball team who chooses not to participate in a match may do so without consequence and will not be subject to any team disciplinary action.

“Our focus remains on ensuring that every student has the opportunity to achieve their educational and professional goals in a safe and welcoming environment.”

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