The Colorado State women’s volleyball coach praises the team after defeating a squad full of replacements

Colorado State Rams women’s volleyball coach Emily Kohan called the team’s Mountain West Tournament Championship win over San Jose State on Saturday a “statement” victory.

The Rams earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a four-set win over the Spartans. San Jose State competed in the tournament under the shadow of controversy over the eligibility of transgender player Blaire Fleming. San Jose State received a first-round bye and Boise State forfeited its game to allow the Spartans to play in the finals.

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Kohan praised his team for staying the course.

“We stuck together many times, against many odds and negative forces, and we took control of our own destiny,” Kohan said, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I think we made a statement during this process.”

Colorado State was one of the Mountain West teams that ended up playing San Jose State in the regular season. The Spartans had five conference opponents lose games against them. They played 1-1.

Colorado State head coach Emily Kohan watches the home game against Colorado at Moby Arena on Sept. 19, 2024, in Fort Collins. (Logan Newell/The Coloradoan/USA Today Network via Magn Images)

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“No one from (Colorado State) was criminal in this whole thing,” Kohan added. “No one came forward to blame anyone else, and no one tried to point fingers. We tried to make this very difficult situation as neutral or controlled from our side as possible. It was a dynamic thing that we handled very well… not. it was the bad guys in this process.”

For Fleming, the conference finals will likely be the last game of the player’s career.

Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker introduced CSU volleyball coach Emily Kohan as her hiring was announced on Dec. 16, 2022, at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins. (Chris Abshire/The Coloradoan/USA Today Network)

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Fleming led the Spartans on a run to the championship game in a senior season marred by accusations from teammates and national controversy over Fleming’s transgender status. Fleming led the team in spikes and inspired four Mountain West opponents to lose a total of seven conference games, including the tournament semifinals.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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