San Jose State Volleyball Advances In MWC As Boise State Forfeits

San Jose State University (SJSU) volleyball team has advanced to the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament after Boise State University (BSU) forfeited its quarterfinal match on Thursday, November 17, due to COVID-19 protocols.

MWC Tournament Implications

The forfeit gives SJSU a 3-0 victory by default, propelling them into the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Colorado State University and the University of New Mexico.

Boise State's Situation

BSU announced on Thursday that multiple members of its team had tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the program to pause all team activities and forfeit the match to protect the health and safety of both teams.

"The health and well-being of our student-athletes is our top priority," said BSU Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey. "We are disappointed that we are unable to compete in the MWC tournament, but we fully support the decision of our medical team to prioritize the health of our team members."

SJSU's Response

SJSU head coach Trent Kersten expressed sympathy for BSU but also emphasized the importance of staying focused on the tournament.

"It's unfortunate that Boise State had to forfeit," Kersten said. "But we are grateful for the opportunity to advance to the semifinals. We know every match is a challenge, and we will be ready to give it our all."

Tournament Outlook

The MWC semifinals are scheduled for Friday, November 18, with the championship match set for Saturday, November 19. The tournament winner will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

SJSU, which finished the regular season with a 19-8 record, is seeking its first MWC tournament title since 2015.

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