Utah State's newest college is foregoing a women's volleyball game against San Jose State

LOGAN, Utah (TNND) — The Utah State University Aggies lost their upcoming women's volleyball game against San Jose State University (SJSU) on Wednesday, according to a post from Utah Governor Spencer Cox.

Utah State joins a growing number of Mountain West Conference teams that skipped volleyball games against SJSU last week, including Boise State University and the University of Wyoming. It is also the second Utah-based school to do so after Southern Utah University lost its SJSU match in mid-September.

The seizures follow claims by a group of student-athletes in a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that a member of the SJSU team is transgender. GOP lawmakers like Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, have hailed these schools' decisions as victories for equality in women's sports.

“I support the @SUUtbirds and @USUAggies students, coaches and leadership in their decision to forego their women’s volleyball games against San Jose State,” Gov. Cox wrote Wednesday. “It is important that we create a space where women can compete fairly and safely.”

Our female athletes must confront this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports,” the governor added. “It’s time for the NCAA to take this seriously and protect our student-athletes.”

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-District 12, also responded.

“Thank you for standing up not only for yourself, but for women across the country – current and future generations!” he said in an X post addressed to the teams. “It’s time for the NCAA to take action to protect our athletes and preserve women’s sports.”

READ MORE |Boise State was praised for making “a statement for women” by foregoing a volleyball game

According to screenshots circulating on social media, the Aggies announced the game-forfeit decision on their team's website. A link to this announcement displays an error message from Thursday morning.

Both SJSU and Utah State's online volleyball schedules still appear to have the Oct. 23 game listed. SJSU has since updated its Wyoming and Boise State games to read “No Contest, W in MW Game.”

Neither SJSU, Utah State nor Southern Utah responded to a request for comment from the National News Desk (TNND) on the forfeiture decisions on Thursday. SJSU said Wednesday that the losses would upset its athletes.

“It is disappointing that our SJSU student-athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied participation in competition. “We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment,” the spokesperson said.

When reached for comment on Wednesday, the NCAA told TNND that it will “continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women's sports, and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes at all NCAA championships.”

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