Update: Rally location has changed due to the need for a larger venue. See end of article for details.

A sports rally titled “Women’s Sports are for Women Only” is scheduled for Oct. 26 in Reno, NV in support of the University of Nevada-Reno women’s volleyball team who decided to boycott their Oct. 26 match against San Jose State University due to there being a trans-identifying male athlete on SJSU’s roster.

Riley Gaines, 12x all-American swimmer, and Sia Liilii, UNR’s volleyball team captain, are scheduled to speak at the rally to fight for the preservation of women-only sports.

“Our decision not to participate against San Jose State is a stand for the rights of female athletes everywhere. We are here to show that the integrity of women’s sports is non-negotiable,” said Liilii according to an Oct. 24 media alert by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS).

Liilii and Gaines will be joined by Galena High School volleyball player, Kendall Lewis, who recently found herself competing against a male athlete, 2x Nevada State Volleyball Champion and 2x Stanford University NCAA Champion, Jen Hucke, and NCAA Champion Swimmer, Marsha Smith, according to ICONS.

Brooke Slusser, the starting setter for SJSU and outspoken proponent of women’s only sports, has spoken out in firm support of the UNR team’s decision to boycott the match.

“Round of applause to the girls of the @NevadaWolfPack volleyball team,” Slusser said on X Oct. 14, “Deciding to to go against what the school was forcing on you as young women and taking a stand for what you believe takes courage! Another great step in the right direction for women’s sports!”

Slusser, who says she was not informed that there was a trans-identifying male athlete on the SJSU team when she decided to transfer from the University of Alabama, is now a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the NCAA.

The UNR team sent a letter to the University of Nevada-Reno on Oct. 13 explaining their decision to forfeit the match.

“We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” the letter stated.

In response, the University released a statement addressing its disagreement with the team’s decision.

“The players’ decision also does not represent the position of the University. The University and its athletic programs are governed by the Nevada Constitution and Nevada law, which strictly protect equality of rights under the law, and that equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin,” said the University.

The University said it would follow federal law, NCAA, and Mountain West Conference regulations, ensuring there would be an “inclusive and supportive environment” for competition while seemingly failing to hear the call of its own women’s volleyball team for a supportive competitive environment, free from male infringement.

The match against SJSU would continue as scheduled, according to the University, but the University would not apply disciplinary action to any players who chose not to participate.

In the most recent update, the Oct. 26 match against SJSU has been moved to SJSU’s home court instead of UNR’s.

Southern Utah, Utah State, Boise State, and the University of Wyoming have also cancelled matches against SJSU amidst the transgender controversy.

The sports rally in support of UNR’s volleyball team will be held at 1pm on Oct. 26 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center A3 & A4, 4590 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502.

Update as of Oct. 25: UNR’s scheduled match against SJSU has officially been cancelled due to “not having enough players to compete,” per the University.

The forfeit will count as a conference loss for UNR.