Orange Vista High School has decided to forfeit its volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School, a decision made following discussions between student-athletes and their coaching staff. The decision aligns with an effort to maintain the well-being of the student-athletes involved, according to the school’s statement provided to Fox News Digital. Orange Vista’s athletic directors were also involved in the decision-making process.
Maribel Munoz, a mother of a Jurupa Valley player, provided copies of messages from the team’s coach, Liana Manu, to parents of players, detailing the upcoming games against Rim of the World High School on Aug. 25 and Orange Vista in light of the situation. The national attention on Jurupa Valley’s girls volleyball team has been heightened by other schools in California also forfeiting matches due to the presence of trans athlete AB Hernandez on the team.
Jurupa Valley High School responded in a statement to Fox News Digital, acknowledging the disappointment of its athletes who are eager to compete. The statement highlighted the state’s laws in California, which protect students against discrimination based on gender identity and require participation in sports that align with one’s gender identity. The situation has drawn the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation, citing their policies that allow biological males to compete in girls sports, conflicting with President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to prohibit this.
Nereyda Hernandez, Hernandez’s mother, emphasized the importance of empathy and understanding, sharing that her child is innocent and that she does not perceive the other players as being inappropriately targeted. The situation is also highlighted by Munoz, who is the first parent of a teammate to publicly voice her concerns about how the school has handled the matter. Her emotions reflect the broader public sentiment, which is a mix of sadness, anger, and frustration over the handling of the situation.