NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
In the fall of 2024, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) women’s volleyball team fell under national scrutiny when it became involved in the San Jose State (SJSU) trans athlete scandal.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it had found SJSU in violation of Title IX on Wednesday, and weeks earlier announced that UNR is now under investigation for possible Title IX violations for its handling of a scheduled game against SJSU in 2024.
Pak Gazette Digital has obtained exclusive details related to UNR’s handling of the situation through testimony from those involved and public records provided by April Chainey, the mother of a UNR player at the time.
UNR did not have a Title IX officer present at a critical meeting
On October 7, 2024, UNR administrators gathered their women’s volleyball players. The purpose was to inform the players that the team would not lose the upcoming home game against SJSU. At the time, four other schools had already lost to the Spartans amid a national controversy involving trans player Blaire Fleming.
UNR players privately expressed a desire to resign as well, but were informed that would not be the school’s position at the meeting.
UNR did not have a Title IX official at that meeting, according to an Oct. 12, 2024, email from the school’s athletic director, Stephanie Rempe.
“Our Title IX Officer was not present,” Rempe’s email read in response to a question from UNR Chancellor Charlton.
Former UNR women’s volleyball captain Sia Liilii called the meeting a “horrible” experience.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES 18 TITLE IX INVESTIGATIONS AFTER SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS
Sia Li’ili’i speaks during an IWF event. (Independent Women Forum)
“This meeting was horrible,” Liilii told Pak Gazette Digital.
“It took place after the school decided to make a decision for us and it was awkward. We were told that Blaire had no advantage because she was taking estrogen and testosterone blockers to level the playing field. A group of girls and I expressed that we did not want to play for reasons of safety, fairness and an opportunity for a male athlete to take away women from us in sports. Instead of supporting this decision, we were told that maybe we should think about all the ‘facts’ first in case we wanted to reconsider.
“It was very concerning that there was no Title IX officer at this meeting and that we were given a bunch of ‘facts’ that were not supported by the truth.”
Chainey said she was “traumatized” as a mother. He then filed a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Chainey told Pak Gazette Digital.
“The UNR Athletics Department discriminated by not suggesting or offering the presence of a Title IX official…I got angry, I really felt like there was no one there to protect the teams and the players…they really dismissed [the player’s voices] because her voice didn’t fit into the NCAA’s gender ideology agenda…
“I was disgusted when I saw that happen.”
UNR warned players of potential ‘legal problems’ if they didn’t play SJSU, and witness alleges ’emotional blackmail’
After UNR announced in October that it would play SJSU, Wolfpack players didn’t back down.
They made public their intention not to play.
The school had a national controversy on its hands, while the volleyball season was still going on.
Marshi Smith, a former NCAA swimmer and co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), is a Nevada resident who also leads the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Protecting Women’s Sports. During that season, UNR players approached her to share the alleged treatment they received from the university while trying to escape their game with SJSU.
“There was widespread intimidation to get the girls on the UNR volleyball team to give up their decision not to play at San Jose State University. There were multiple different tactics, from emotional blackmail to even insinuations that legal disputes could be pursued,” Smith alleged.
“It wasn’t clear to them exactly what that meant. But when someone in a position of authority threatens you with various consequences for standing up for your rights, that’s really serious.”
UNR previously confirmed to Pak Gazette Digital that it had raised concerns of “legal issues” to players if they did not play the game.
SJSU VOLLEYBALL TEAM FAILS TO MAKE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IN FIRST SEASON AFTER TRANS ATHLETES SCANDAL
“University administrators met with the Nevada volleyball team and discussed scenarios of what could happen if they decided not to play. One of the scenarios discussed revolved around potential legal issues for violating the Nevada Constitution,” UNR said last January.
The state constitution was revised in 2022, when Democratic lawmakers voted to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment, which added gender identity to its list of diversity classifications protected by state law.
UNR athletics staff were “concerned” about players’ interactions with Riley Gaines and conservative lawmakers.
After players made public their intention not to play against SJSU in October, UNR had a national media landmine to navigate.
During correspondence regarding media requests and interviews, UNR Assistant AD for Strategic Communications Aaron Juarez told Rempe he had a “concern” about players meeting conservative influencer Riley Gaines and Idaho legislators for photo opportunities.
Nevada Wolf Pack women’s volleyball players with Sam Brown and Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown campaign)
“My main concern is not that the media is talking to Shannon, but that Idaho legislators and other guys (i.e. the Idaho Freedom Foundation) are connecting with [redacted] and any of our players, or the players who connect with them for photos and such. Or that our team is sporting these Riley Gaines t-shirts,” the email said.
The players eventually met and took photos with Gaines and Republican politicians, including Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Senate candidate and military veteran Sam Brown and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.
Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown (left) poses with Sia Liilii (center right) of Nevada and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown campaign)
UNR athletics included ‘next steps in transgender education’ on agenda
An Oct. 24 email from Rempe to Casey Stangel, senior associate athletic director for administration, that appears to outline the UNR athletic department’s next priorities lists “Next Steps in Transgender Education” as the bottom line.
Pak Gazette Digital reached out to UNR to request clarification as to why the item was on the agenda and what the next steps were.
The game was never played and the season fell apart.
The university stated in communication with the public that players would be free to not participate in the SJSU game, without consequences.
Ultimately, the game was moved from Nevada to San Jose just days before the Oct. 26, 2024 date. Then, just one day before the game, UNR announced they were withdrawing due to not having enough players willing to compete.
The team then went 1-7 to finish the season after that, finishing 12-17 and well outside the postseason picture.
“This situation affected our team’s morale quite a bit. It was a huge distraction and took us away from what we were there to do, playing volleyball. Being dragged in and out of meetings and having outsiders ask us about the events really got to our heads,” Liilii said.
For Liilii, the impact of the situation even reached her personal life.
“As far as my personal life goes, I can say for myself that I have lost friends for being a vocal part of this issue. Which is unfortunate, but I firmly believe that this is simply not right and it is something that I could not remain silent about at the time,” she said.
Chainey said her daughter’s team morale was “horrible” and she was “infuriated” that the team had to take a loss for the loss.
“For them to be punished like this is infuriating, because they shouldn’t have had to lose, they shouldn’t have suffered a defeat, because that was reflected in their positions,” Chainey said.
“These young adults are being bullied.”
Things did not improve for UNR in 2025, falling to last place in the Mountain West conference at 8-20, and now facing a federal investigation in 2026.
Meanwhile, Liilii has moved on and plays professional volleyball outside the country.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
“My career in professional volleyball has been fun. I just finished a season in Kosovo and will be moving to play in Germany in 2026. My participation has not hindered anything, but I have been asked about the situation and why I am so convinced about this issue. I have learned that this issue has a lot of support from women in other countries,” Liilii said.
Now, Liilii, Chainey and Smith await the federal government’s pending consequences for SJSU and UNR.
Meanwhile, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is doing his part to avoid similar situations in his state.
Lombardo announced in early January that he is leading a petition to amend the Nevada Constitution to keep transgender athletes out of women’s and girls’ sports.
The proposed ballot initiative would require the state and other entities that receive public funds, such as schools, universities, or local sports programs, or entities that govern them, to categorize each sport or competition as men’s, women’s, or co-ed/mixed-sex.
UNR’s response
UNR has provided a statement to Pak Gazette Digital addressing all of the above findings and testimony.
“The University has received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and has responded appropriately through appropriate legal and administrative channels.
“The University remains committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and respectful campus environment for all of our students. We recognize and fulfill our responsibilities under state and federal laws, including the U.S. and Nevada Constitutions. The University also complies with the rules and regulations of the Mountain West Conference and the NCAA.
“As stated in the University Statement of October 17, 2024The administration communicated that the University supported the rights of players to choose not to participate and that any member of the Wolf Pack women’s volleyball team who chose not to participate in the match could do so without consequences and would not be subject to any team disciplinary action.
“Our focus remains on ensuring that every student has the opportunity to achieve their educational and career goals in a safe and welcoming environment.”
