.

Two more games have been scratched from the schedule of a California girls’ high school volleyball team after opposing schools decided to forfeit in a controversy over a transgender athlete on the roster.

Maribel Munoz, the mother of a Jurupa Valley High School volleyball player, confirmed the news after team coach Liana Manu informed parents. The forfeited games were against Rim of the World High School, Aug. 25, and Orange Vista High School, Aug. 29.

The Jurupa Valley Unified School District (JUSD) later stated the latest forfeits, saying it was “aware and disappointed” by the decision and was “sympathetic to the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are eager and ready to play.”

“The decision to cancel matches was not made by Jurupa Valley Unified School District. Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts,” the statement continued.

The district went on to clarify that it must follow state law that prohibits schools from discriminating against a student based on gender identity. Citing Education Code 221.5 (f), the district said schools are required to allow students to participate on athletic teams “that are consistent with the students’ gender identity.”

The district also noted the guidance is consistent with the views of California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

“We are proud of our JVHS Jaguars and their willingness to play any team and to represent their school and our district with pride,” the district statement said. “JVHS is working on re-creating these match opportunities so that our athletes can continue to play volleyball.”

The latest forfeits follow a similar move by Riverside Poly High School, which canceled a scheduled Aug. 15 game against Jurupa Valley. Parents of players and a member of the local school board confirmed to Fox News Digital that the decision was a direct response to the team’s transgender player, senior AB Hernandez.

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, stated in the wake of the forfeits and ensuing backlash, pleading for understanding and compassion. “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 went on to say her daughter is “petite,” and there’s nothing that makes Hernandez different from her peers except the sport she plays and how she plays it. “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 said. She added that her daughter “didn’t even realize” that the forfeits had anything to do with her.

Hernandez has been the subject of national scrutiny in recent months. This past spring, she won two California state titles in long jump and triple jump while competing on the track and field team. After the victories, Hernandez was confronted by female athletes and their parents, many of whom were wearing “Save Girls’ Sports” shirts.

At one of the track events, former President Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social ahead of the state finals, exhorting California to “not allow a biological male who competed for a different team in high school to run in our women’s track and field state championship,” though he did not mention Hernandez by name.

In July, the Biden administration filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over its policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. The lawsuit came even though Trump signed an executive order in February that prohibited it.

The focus for Hernandez, who is in her senior year of high school and participating in her last volleyball season, should be on the games themselves. Instead, the season so far has been defined by forfeits and fracturing communities.

Munoz, a Jurupa Valley parent whose daughter has played alongside Hernandez on the team for three years, said the situation has been difficult. “It makes me feel sad, it makes me feel angry, frustrated, just so many emotions,” she said.