A high-school girls’ volleyball team hasn’t played all its scheduled games recently but keeps “winning” thanks to opponents forfeiting – due to a biological boy playing on the team.
Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County, California, includes on its team AB Hernandez, a biological male “identifying” as a girl. In the name of safety, other teams have forfeited games, the latest being Orange Vista High School.
According to the U.K.’s GBN, the decision emerged following deliberations between student-athletes and their coaching staff regarding the scheduled Aug. 29 match.
Orange Vista emphasized that student welfare remained their primary concern throughout the decision-making process.
Riverside Poly High School initially brought attention to the issue after forfeiting its Aug. 15 match against Jurupa Valley.
“After thoughtful discussions our student-athletes had with coaching staff, it was decided to cancel our upcoming Girls’ Varsity volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School,” said a statement from Orange Vista.
The report notes that Jurupa Valley High School defended its having a male on the roster by stating that they must comply with California state law protecting students from gender identity discrimination.
The district referenced California Education Code 221.5 (f), which mandates student participation on athletic teams matching their “gender identity.”
According to his mother, Nereyda Hernandez, AB doesn’t know the reason for the forfeits, i.e., his presence on the 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 explained to GBN.
“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 stated.
Jurupa Valley High School told Fox News, “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.”
Hernandez is the athlete who drew controversy last spring when he competed and won several track and field competitions in California girls’ events, including two state titles.
A teammate of Hernandez, Alyssa McPherson, told Fox News it isn’t fair for the other players, stating, “I just feel like it’s so unfair that not only am I missing out on my senior season, but my other teammates, our JV team, and our freshmen team aren’t playing either. And it’s just so disheartening that they’re not gonna have a season and we just want to be able to compete, play, and have fun.”
She continued, “To me, I feel like this is just a fairness issue. … It’s just so sad.”
Since taking office in January, President Trump has taken action to try to inhibit the practice of boys playing on girls’ sports teams and the presence of opposite-sex athletes in locker rooms. Multiple states and school districts have taken legal action against executive orders and other actions of the White House.
?FIVE California girls’ volleyball teams have forfeited games because Jurupa Valley High School insists on letting a MALE play on the girls’ team.
Girls are losing their chance to compete for this nonsense.
When will @CAgovernor stop this madness?! pic.twitter.com/5pM5XjBYQU
— American Principles Project (@approject) August 25, 2025