California High School Volleyball Team Explains Decision to Forfeit Match Against Team with Transgender Athlete
In the midst of a growing controversy surrounding high school volleyball in California, Orange Vista High School has publicly explained their decision to forfeit an August 29th match against Jurupa Valley High School, which includes transgender athlete AB Hernandez on its roster. The situation has sparked important conversations about inclusion, fairness, and the emotional complexity of gender identity in competitive sports.
Orange Vista released a statement explaining that their decision came after thoughtful discussions between student-athletes and coaching staff. “This decision was made in conjunction with the athletic directors at both Orange Vista and Jurupa Valley,” the statement read. “Our priority is always the well-being of our students. We are proud of our athletes for bringing their thoughts forward and for supporting one another to make this a team decision.” Orange Vista is not the first school to forfeit against Jurupa Valley, as Rim of the World High School and Riverside Poly High School have made similar decisions earlier in the season, specifically citing concerns about competing against a transgender athlete.
Jurupa Valley High School has responded to these forfeits with its own statement, emphasizing their obligation to follow California law. “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,” their statement explained. The school expressed pride in their team’s willingness to “play any team and represent their school and our district with pride,” while acknowledging the disappointment felt by their athletes who were prepared to play but denied the opportunity due to forfeits.
The human dimension of this controversy was highlighted when Nereyda Hernandez, AB’s mother, shared her perspective in an exclusive statement. “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 with remarkable empathy. She emphasized that what distinguishes her child is “not her size or strength, but her skill and the way she plays the game,” and poignantly added, “My child is so innocent, she didn’t even realize the forfeited games were because of her.” Her statement revealed the personal journey of a parent navigating unfamiliar territory alongside her child, choosing compassion over confrontation in the face of public scrutiny.
The situation at Jurupa Valley exists within a broader legal and political context. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation regarding policies that allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity. This action directly challenges President Trump’s February executive order prohibiting biological males from competing in girls’ sports. For AB Hernandez, a senior at Jurupa Valley, this represents her final high school volleyball season, adding emotional weight to an already complex situation.
Not all voices within the Jurupa Valley community have been supportive. Maribel Munoz, whose daughter has played alongside Hernandez for three years, expressed frustration with the school’s handling of the situation. “It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, frustrated, just so many emotions,” Munoz told Fox News Digital. Her perspective represents another dimension of this multifaceted issue, highlighting the range of opinions even within the same school community. As the volleyball season continues, these forfeits have transformed what should be simple athletic competitions into profound conversations about inclusion, fairness, personal identity, and the balance between individual rights and collective concerns—questions that extend far beyond the volleyball court.
