The volleyball season at Jurupa Valley High School continues to face controversy as Patriot High School becomes the latest team to refuse competition against transgender athlete AB Hernandez. This marks the eighth forfeit of the season.
Jurupa Valley confirmed the development in a statement to Fox News, saying “We can confirm the Patriot High School volleyball team will forfeit their September 26 match.” The school district now faces the challenging task of finding opponents willing to compete against their team while Hernandez remains on the roster.
The controversy has intensified following a lawsuit filed by three current and former Jurupa Valley volleyball players. Hadeel Hazameh, Alyssa McPherson, and Madison McPherson are seeking to have their transgender teammate removed from competition, represented by Advocates for Faith & Freedom attorney Julianne Fleischer.
“Girls’ sports are for girls,” Fleischer stated. “No policy can erase the biological differences between males and females, and forcing young women to compete against boys is both unfair and unsafe.”
The legal challenge extends beyond competitive fairness concerns. The lawsuit includes serious allegations of s*xual harassment against Hernandez, claiming inappropriate physical contact during team activities.
“Beyond the locker room, A.H. engaged in unwelcomed and offensive contact, including slapping and/or placing his hands on female players’ buttocks, including Plaintiffs, during practices, games, and huddles,” the filing states.
Hernandez’s athletic achievements have been notable, with state medals earned in track and field events including the long jump and triple jump. Last season, the athlete helped lead Jurupa Valley to a championship and an undefeated league record in volleyball.
Sports media coverage has documented the competitive dynamics during matches involving Hernandez. Outkick reported on one game this season, describing “an advantage so clear and obvious that several members of the opposing team’s supporters were visibly upset by it.”
The athlete’s mother has responded to the legal action through the East Bay Times, characterizing the lawsuit as containing “defamation, false claims, fabricated evidence, harassment and perjury.”
However, specific details of her response or evidence supporting these claims were not provided in the reporting.
As the season progresses, Jurupa Valley faces mounting challenges in scheduling matches while the legal proceedings continue. The situation has sparked broader discussions about transgender athlete participation policies in high school sports and the balance between inclusion and competitive equity.
The ongoing forfeits have created scheduling chaos throughout the district, leaving administrators scrambling to maintain meaningful competition opportunities for all teams involved.
