More Teams Refuse To Play Against Biological Male [WATCH]

A California high school girls’ volleyball team has seen two more games canceled as the debate over a transgender athlete on its roster continues.

Maribel Munoz, the mother of a player on Jurupa Valley High School’s girls’ volleyball team, shared messages from head coach Liana Manu with Fox News Digital.

The messages confirmed that the team’s scheduled games against Rim of the World High School on August 25 and Orange Vista High School on August 29 had been forfeited.

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Jurupa Valley Unified School District addressed the cancellations.

“We understand and acknowledge the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are ready and prepared to play.

Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts,” the district said.

“As a public school district in California, JUSD is compelled to follow the law, which protects students from discrimination based on gender identity and requires that students be permitted to participate on athletic teams that are consistent with their gender identity (California Education Code 221.5 (f)).

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

[esi random_video_player ttl=”0″]

This is consistent with the guidance provided by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

“We are proud of our JVHS Jaguars and their willingness to play any team and represent their school and our district with pride. We are currently working to find additional matches to give them that opportunity.”

The school drew renewed national attention earlier this month when Riverside Poly High School’s volleyball team forfeited an August 15 match.

BRAVE & COURAGEOUS

The Riverside Poly High School girls volleyball team took a stand for fairness. They forfeited their match against Jurupa Valley rather than play against a team with a boy on the court.

These girls showed more courage than most adults in leadership… pic.twitter.com/dxaxUn5iuJ

— Sonja Shaw (@realSonjaShaw) August 16, 2025

Parents of Riverside Poly athletes and a school board member told Fox News Digital that the forfeit was tied to the presence of Jurupa Valley’s transgender athlete, AB Hernandez.

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, responded in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“I understand the discomfort some may feel, because I was once there, too. The difference is, I chose to learn, to grow, and to open my heart,” she said.

“Believe me, I know some people genuinely don’t understand what it means to be transgender. I’m still learning too, right alongside my child. That is why I choose not to respond with anger or disrespect. Instead, I choose empathy, because learning takes time, and compassion makes all the difference.”

She continued, “My baby is petite, what sets her apart is not her size or strength, but her skill and the way she plays the game… This is a child, and I can assure you that she sees your daughters as peers, as teammates, as friends, not through a lens of anything inappropriate. I know it may be hard to understand, but she is just another girl who wants to play.

“Finally, I leave you with this: My child is so innocent, she didn’t even realize the forfeited games were because of her.”

This is not the first time Hernandez has drawn public attention.

Earlier this year, Hernandez won two state titles in the girls’ long jump and triple jump events, leading to protests from female athletes and families who wore “Save Girls Sports” shirts.

At the time, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social urging California not to allow transgender athletes in girls’ competitions, though he did not reference Hernandez directly.

In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and CIF over policies permitting biological males to participate in girls’ sports, despite Trump signing an executive order in February prohibiting the practice.

Munoz, who said her daughter has played on the team with Hernandez for three years, criticized how the school has handled the situation.

“It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, frustrated, just so many emotions,” Munoz told Fox News Digital.

At a Riverside Unified School District board meeting following Riverside Poly’s forfeit, parents and community members debated the issue.

Some expressed support for the athletes who declined to play against Jurupa Valley, while others defended the inclusion of transgender athletes.

Nereyda Hernandez also spoke at the meeting, addressing Riverside school board member Amanda Vickers.

“Amanda Vickers, you interviewed with Fox. You actually entertained and welcomed harassment to my child.

You are a board member. You have an oath to protect, to support all children, not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs,” she said.

She added, “My daughter is not the problem. The problem is coordinated external efforts often led by individuals that travel from district to district… to spread fear and put parents against each other using religion as a shield for discrimination. This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children.”

One parent at the meeting, Maria Carrillo, spoke in support of Riverside Poly athletes.

“The girls, great job. Poly girls, we stand with you. Keep fighting, because these parents that support their confused child are the problem,” Carrillo said.

“If my child was on drugs, I would love him, but guess what? I would tell him the truth; drugs are bad for you. I would not feed him more drugs.”

The Jurupa Valley girls’ volleyball season is scheduled to continue through mid-October.

On Thursday, President Trump issued another warning to California officials over transgender policies in schools.

“Any California school district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.