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A girls’ high school volleyball team in California will have two more matches forfeited to opposing schools, further fueling a controversy over a transgender player on the squad.

Maribel Munoz, a mother of a player on the Jurupa Valley High School girls’ volleyball team, confirmed to Fox News Digital that coach Liana Manu had sent a message to parents informing them of the additional forfeits. One was against Rim of the World High School on Aug. 25 and the other against Orange Vista High School on Aug. 29.

The Jurupa Valley Unified School District (JUSD) also sent out a statement, clarifying that the forfeits had not come from them. “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,” the statement said.

District officials emphasized that it was obligated by state law to protect students from discrimination over gender identity. The Education Code 221.5 (f) requires districts to allow students to participate on athletic teams “that are consistent with their gender identity.”

The district noted that such language is in line with statements made by 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 represent their school and our district with pride,” the district said, adding that it is trying to reschedule the games so the athletes have an opportunity to compete.

Jurupa Valley has faced a series of forfeits over the transgender player, with one from Riverside Poly High School coming on Aug. 15. Fox News Digital spoke to parents of players and a Riverside Poly school board member, who confirmed the decision to forfeit was because of the team’s transgender player, senior AB Hernandez.

Parents Have Said Trans Athlete Isn’t “Behaving Inappropriately”

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, spoke out on the situation, saying she understands people’s discomfort and need to feel heard, and adding that she had felt the same before opening her heart and mind.

“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 described her daughter as being a petite girl, and what sets set apart is not based on strength or size but her abilities and competitive nature. “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.

Hernandez said she had been at work when the other forfeits were announced, so her daughter was unaware of them at first. “She is so busy focusing on our opponent and wanting to win, she wouldn’t even know they were matches canceled because of her,” she said.

In the spring, Hernandez made national news when she won two state titles in the long jump and triple jump for the school’s track and field team. Her victories were met with protests from other female athletes and their parents, some of whom wore “Save Girls’ Sports” shirts. Former President Donald Trump also posted a message on Truth Social ahead of the state finals, saying California should not allow a trans athlete to compete, but did not name Hernandez.

In July, the Justice Department sued the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over its rules that allow transgender athletes to play on girls’ teams, even though Trump had signed an executive order in February that would ban such participation.

Hernandez is in the last year of her high school volleyball career, but there has been far less attention on that season and more on a series of forfeits and the divisions within the community.