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A girls’ high school volleyball team in California was dealt two more forfeits when two opposing schools opted to cancel the games.

The forfeits were announced by Jurupa Valley High School volleyball coach Liana Manu and confirmed by one of the player’s mothers, Maribel Munoz, to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, as the teams opposing her player canceled their games because of the inclusion of a transgender athlete on the roster.

Jurupa Valley Unified School District (JUSD) released a statement in the wake of the cancellations. The district said in the statement that it did not force the forfeits. “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 statement read.

The district added that it is obligated under California law to prevent gender identity discrimination. Citing Education Code 221.5 (f), JUSD also reminded the public that schools are required to allow students to try out for and participate on teams consistent with their gender identity. The district further explained its position in the release, noting that it is guided by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the 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,” the statement continued, saying the district is working on making up the games so students do not miss playing time.

The most recent forfeits come after a team from Riverside Poly High School forfeited a match scheduled to take place on August 15.

Parents of Riverside Poly athletes and a Riverside school board member confirmed to Fox News Digital that the team’s decision not to play Jurupa Valley was made in response to the team’s transgender athlete, senior AB Hernandez.

Hernandez’s Mother Speaks Out in Light of Forfeits and Protest

The athlete’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, spoke out in a statement in the wake of the backlash against her daughter’s participation in the volleyball team. “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.

Nereyda Hernandez described her daughter as petite and said the thing that sets her apart is not size or muscle but skill. “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,” Hernandez wrote. She added that her daughter had not even known about the forfeits and that they had no idea why the opposing team did not show up.

The 18-year-old has previously found herself in the national spotlight after competing in the spring track and field season and winning two California state titles, one in the long jump and the other in triple jump.

Her victories at the state meet were protested by female athletes and their parents, who were seen wearing “Save Girls’ Sports” shirts. Former President Donald Trump also posted a message on Truth Social before the state finals, saying that California should not allow a trans athlete to compete. Trump did not specifically mention Hernandez.

In July, the DOJ sued the California Department of Education and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over the state’s policies allowing transgender athletes to compete on girls’ teams. This was despite an executive order Trump had signed in February to bar such participation.

It’s Senior Season for Hernandez, and the Team Plays Forfeits

For Hernandez, this is supposed to be her senior season of high school volleyball. Instead, the season has been marked by forfeits and a widening divide in her community.

One of the Jurupa Valley parents who has played with Hernandez for three years is Munoz. “It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, frustrated, just so many emotions,” the mother said in an interview. “I’ve been feeling sorry for AB and our other seniors, so that now they’re going to have forfeits on their records.”

Local school board meetings have been embroiled in the fight as well. During one such meeting held by Riverside Unified School District, parents on both sides of the issue spoke, some showing support for the Riverside Poly athletes who refused to play, while others spoke in defense of transgender students’ rights to participate.

During that meeting, Hernandez also confronted Riverside board member Amanda Vickers for previously speaking to Fox News Digital about the issue. “You actually entertained and welcomed harassment to my child,” she said. “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.”

Hernandez said the intimidation is not coming from parents who care about fair play, but rather it is coordinated and motivated by fear and religion in an effort to turn parents against each other. “This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children,” she said.

Parents such as Maria Carrillo spoke at the opposite end, defending the Riverside Poly girls and attacking parents who support the right of transgender athletes to participate. “Poly girls, we stand with you. Keep fighting, because these parents who support their confused child are the problem,” Carrillo said.

Jurupa Valley’s high school volleyball team’s regular-season games are set to take place through mid-October. As more forfeits are possible, the students are left to balance their own will to play with a national fight that has not let up.

Trump recently stepped up his attacks on California’s policies. In a post on Truth Social earlier this month, he threatened to cut off federal funds from school districts in the state that do not comply with his administration’s position on transgender athletes.

State law, federal edicts, community conflict, and national politics have all collided to ensure that the coming season will remain challenging and full of unknowns for both the students and their families.