LAS VEGAS – The San Jose State women’s volleyball team lost its bid for the Mountain West Conference championship on Saturday, ending a season filled with controversy, losses and protests.

Top-seeded Colorado State (20-10) defeated the second-seeded Spartans (14-6) in four sets – 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 – to secure automatic berth to the NCAA conference tournament with 64 teams in front of a sparse crowd of about 200 spectators.

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 despite a lot of negative energy. We controlled our own destiny, and I think we made a statement in doing so.”

As the ball landed on the court for Colorado State’s final point, after a brief group hug, the San Jose State team, bringing energy and cohesion throughout the game, dispersed. Coach Todd Kress sat on the bench and stared at his clipboard. Co-captain and setter Brooke Slusser, who is involved in two lawsuits over the suitability of a teammate she says is transgender, left the field and entered the hallway.

“Our team gave their best today, just as they have all season,” Kress said in a statement. “This has been one of the most difficult seasons I have ever experienced and I know that is also the case for many of our players and the staff who have supported us throughout. “We remain focused on the pitch and ensuring overall safety and the well-being of my players amidst the outside noise were my priorities.”

Five teams — including four in the Mountain West — have canceled or lost games against the Spartans this season. Neither school explicitly gave a reason, but players from Nevada — one of the schools that had to forfeit — held a rally on Oct. 26 instead of their scheduled game against San Jose State to argue for transgender women being banned from women’s sports should.

The volleyball player has not discussed her identity, and San Jose State has not commented on her identity due to federal privacy laws. ESPN is not naming the player.

“Our team prepared and was ready to play each game in accordance with the established Mountain West and NCAA rules of play,” Kress’ statement said. “We have not taken away anyone’s opportunity to participate. Unfortunately, others who have played against the same team for years without incident have decided not to play against us this season. To be clear, we have not celebrated a single victory through loss. Instead, we braced ourselves for it.” The fallout from each forfeiture announcement triggered horrific, hateful messages that individuals sent directly to our student-athletes, our coaching staff and many associated with our program.

SJSU advanced to the conference championship game after Boise State lost the semifinal game. The Broncos also lost their two regular season games to the Spartans.

On September 23, Slusser joined a lawsuit against the NCAA, saying her teammate was transgender and posed a safety threat to her teammates and opponents. Slusser filed on November 13, along with SJSU associate head coach Melissa Batie -Smoose, and 10 other current and former Mountain West volleyball players filed another lawsuit challenging the conference’s transgender participation policy. The lawsuit also sought an injunction to stop SJSU from participating in the Mountain West tournament with its full roster.

U.S. Judge S. Kato Crews ruled Monday that the player could play, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision the following day.

The first meeting between the Rams and Spartans this season sparked its own controversy. Batie-Smoose alleged in a Title IX complaint and lawsuit that SJSU’s alleged transgender player engaged with a CSU player during their Oct. 3 game. The Mountain West investigated these claims and closed the investigation on November 15 after not finding enough evidence to support their claims.

Batie-Smoose hasn’t been on the bench since the Title IX report was released, but she sat stoically in the stands during Saturday’s championship game. She declined an interview request with ESPN.

After the game ended, senior Alessia Buffagni entered the stands to hug Batie-Smoose. Buffagni was visibly crying as Batie-Smoose wrapped an arm around Buffagni’s shoulders. Other players also greeted them.

There were two protesters outside Cox Pavilion on Friday, but none on Saturday. Furthermore, there were no signs of hostility from the approximately 200 fans who attended the final.