LAS VEGAS — The San José State women’s volleyball team lost its bid for the Mountain West Conference championship Saturday, ending a season full of controversy, forfeits and protests.
Top-seeded Colorado State (20-10) beat the second-seeded Spartans (14-6) in four sets — 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 — to claim the conference’s automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament in front of a sparse crowd of about 200.
Mountain West Player of the Year Malaya Jones led the Rams with 26 kills, 9 digs and 3 blocks. CSU setter Emery Herman, who had 50 assists and 16 digs, was named MVP.
“I’m just so proud of us,” Rams coach Emily Kohan said. “We stuck together through a lot and against a lot of negative energy. We controlled our own destiny, and I think we made a statement in the process.”
Once the ball hit the court for the final Colorado State point, a San José State team that brought energy and togetherness all match scattered after a brief group hug. Coach Todd Kress sat on the bench gazing at his clipboard. Co-captain and setter Brooke Slusser, who is part of two lawsuits about the eligibility of a teammate she says is…
