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A girls’ high school volleyball team in California has been scratched from at least two more games after other teams chose to forfeit, escalating an already tense situation that has been building around a transgender athlete on the roster.

Maribel Munoz, mother of one of Jurupa Valley High School’s girls’ volleyball players, confirmed the forfeits to Fox News Digital after Jurupa Valley girls’ volleyball coach Liana Manu sent an email to parents alerting them to the development. The forfeited games were against Rim of the World High School on August 25 and Orange Vista High School on August 29.

Jurupa Valley Unified School District (JUSD) also released a statement about the latest forfeits, noting that it did not cancel the matches. “We understand and acknowledge the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are ready and prepared to play,” the statement read. “Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts.”

District officials also noted that the state of California forbids discrimination against students based on gender identity. California Education Code 221.5 (f) also specifically requires schools to “allow a student to participate on an athletic team that is consistent with the student’s gender identity.” The district also said this guidance aligns with the position of 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 concluded, adding the district is working to reschedule so athletes can play.

Jurupa Valley’s forfeits were preceded by one from Riverside Poly High School in late August. Parents of those players and one of the Riverside board members confirmed to Fox News Digital that Riverside Poly pulled out of an August 15 matchup because they did not want to play against the team with Jurupa Valley’s transgender player, senior AB Hernandez, on its roster.

Hernandez’s Mother Asks People to ‘Grow’ With Her in Statement on Forfeits

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, released a statement of her own in the face of the backlash. “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.

She said of her daughter, “She is small. But it is not her size, it’s not her strength, and it’s not her speed that makes her different. It is her talent. She works very hard, and she loves to play.”

She asked for compassion, saying This is a child. “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,” she said. Hernandez also said her daughter had no idea the games were forfeited over her.

Hernandez has received national attention before. In the spring, she took two California state titles in long jump and triple jump for track and field. But those victories were protested by female athletes and their parents, some of whom were wearing “Save Girls’ Sports” shirts.

Former President Donald Trump also sent out a post on Truth Social ahead of the California state finals, calling on California not to allow a trans girl to compete, without naming Hernandez.

In July, the Justice Department also filed a federal lawsuit over California’s policies that allow trans athletes to participate in girls’ sports, against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). This is despite the Trump administration signing an executive order in February that would have barred such participation.

For Hernandez, a senior, she just wants to be playing volleyball. She’s in her last high school volleyball season, and it’s becoming one where the matches do not count, replaced by forfeits and a chasm opening up between segments of the community.

Munoz, another Jurupa Valley parent whose daughter has played with Hernandez for the last three years, said the decision has left her feeling several emotions. “It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, frustrated, just so many emotions,” she said.

Parents have also shown up at school board meetings for the district, like one in Riverside Unified School District, with some speaking on behalf of Riverside Poly athletes and parents for refusing to play. Others have spoken up in support of transgender athletes’ right to play and have called for acceptance.

Nereyda Hernandez also had a message for Riverside board member Amanda Vickers, who had previously spoken to Fox News Digital about the forfeit at that meeting. “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 people are organized and “intentionally” stoking fears to create a fight and pit parents against one another. She noted their rallying cries have had religious reasons, but has asked them to let parents like herself make their own decisions.