Female volleyball players at Santa Rosa Junior College have stepped forward with serious allegations about physical injuries they say were caused by a transgender teammate, filing a formal Title IX complaint that has thrust their small California community college into a national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Sisters Madison and Gracie Shaw, along with teammate Brielle Galli, filed their complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights last week, working with the Independent Council for Women’s Sports. Their grievances center on what they describe as preventable injuries caused by the physical advantages of their biological male teammate.
Madison Shaw recounted a particularly concerning incident from last spring involving former player Kiana Walker. “It had so much force and so much impact with my teammate’s head that it resulted in a concussion, she was out for two weeks of her sophomore year, and she was upset,” Madison said.
The incident occurred when Walker was positioned at the net while the transgender player was serving from 30 feet away. Madison emphasized that while injuries are common in volleyball, “this one particularly could have been prevented by not having this male athlete on the team.”
Gracie Shaw shared her own experience of being struck during an August practice session. “I myself got hit in the face by this male athlete in practice in August. I was ready, I knew this male athlete was about to hit the ball, and I couldn’t move out of the way and the ball spiked me in the face and it was way harder than any other hit that I’d gotten from the other female athletes on our team,” she explained.
The impact left Gracie shaken by its intensity. “It did hurt pretty bad … it came at my face so fast I didn’t even have time to react,” she said, highlighting what she sees as clear evidence of biological advantages that create safety concerns.
Beyond the physical incidents, the Shaw sisters allege they faced retaliation from school administrators when they attempted to voice their concerns internally. Their troubles began when they informed coaching staff and administrators they wanted to remain on the team but refused to compete alongside the transgender athlete.
“We’ve told our coach, our athletic director and our Title IX coordinator from the get-go that we want to play, we want to be part of this team, but we’re not willing to take the court while a male athlete is on the team,” Madison said. When administrators declined their request for accommodation, the sisters attempted to explain their decision to teammates.
However, they claim their coach actively prevented them from communicating with the team. Madison said her coach sent a text message stating, “no, you can not tell the team your reasons for not taking the court, and we really need to respect the male athlete’s privacy.”
When the sisters tried to address teammates during a weightlifting session, “Our coach, ironically, at 10 o’clock at night before our weight session, canceled the weights,” Gracie said. “And that basically felt that she was trying to silence us.”
Even their attempt to organize a Zoom meeting faced interference. “Our coach demanded that she have a link, and she told the team that this was not a mandatory meeting and attendance wasn’t necessary, and that made it to feel like what we were trying to say wasn’t very important and that the team didn’t have to come, and we felt that was very wrong,” Gracie explained.
The situation has created division within the team itself. Madison noted that Walker, the player who suffered the concussion, was particularly frustrated. “She was telling me how infuriating (it was) because she didn’t believe this athlete belonged on our team and now that she’s suffering the consequences, it really bothered her,” Madison said.
However, team unity remains elusive. “But, a majority of our team, unfortunately, doesn’t see it the way we see it. They support the male athlete being on the team,” Madison acknowledged, suggesting that fear may be preventing some players from speaking up.
Santa Rosa Junior College responded to the allegations with a measured statement emphasizing their commitment to inclusion while noting legal constraints. “Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and employees. The District complies with California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) regulations, which govern student eligibility and participation in our athletic programs,” the school said.
The institution stressed that it “takes all reports seriously and responds through established procedures” while respecting “the legal privacy rights of all students” and declining to discuss individual circumstances.
This controversy adds to California’s growing reputation as a battleground for transgender athlete policies. The state’s Department of Education faces a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice over policies allowing biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports categories.
Similar conflicts have emerged at multiple levels throughout the state. San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team faced federal Title IX investigation over transgender athlete Blaire Fleming, while at the high school level, Jurupa Valley High School has seen players step away and opponents forfeit games due to a transgender teammate.
