The San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is set to face Boise State University Friday at the Mountain West tournament in what would usually be a celebration of athletic prowess and achievement.

The women’s volleyball team at the center of a national debate over gender and sports advanced to the conference championship after Boise State refused to play.

A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that allows a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member to play in the Mountain West Conference tournament after complaints said she should be ineligible on grounds that she’s transgender.

The latest battleground in America’s culture war over gender identity will take place Saturday on a volleyball court in Las Vegas.

A federal judge ruled that the player, who is at the center of a controversy over transgender athletes, can participate in a women’s volleyball conference tournament this week.

San Jose State University said it was “disappointed” after Boise State dropped out of the end-of-season women’s volleyball championship rather than play the Spartans, whose team features a biological male.

The Spartan team over the weekend secured the No. 2 seed spot in the six-team tournament, with a bye in the first round. Next, they are scheduled to face the winner of the match between Utah State

San Jose State transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming probably played the athlete's final college volleyball game in a loss to Colorado State.

California remains one of 24 states that allow transgender collegiate athletes to play for teams that don’t correspond to their biological sex.

The collegiate volleyball career of Blaire Fleming has likely concluded, but the controversy surrounding the transgender athlete’s participation in women’s sports continues to fuel national debate.