Eighth California high school forfeits game against trans volleyball star AB Hernandez

Patriot High School forfeited its scheduled September 26 girls' volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School, marking it as the eighth California school to withdraw from facing Jurupa Valley's transgender student-athlete AB Hernandez this season. The move comes as the season has seen a string of forfeits and canceled matches amid a broader dispute over transgender participation in girls' sports.

Jurupa Valley confirmed the forfeit in a statement to Fox News, saying the Patriot High School team would not compete on September 26. Officials in Jurupa Valley have said several other schools have expressed concerns about facing Hernandez and the rest of the team, leaving the program with ongoing difficulty finding opponents. Patriot's decision leaves Jurupa Valley scrambling to fill a schedule that had already been compressed by the controversy.

In parallel to the scheduling dispute, three current and former Jurupa Valley players filed a civil lawsuit seeking to ban Hernandez from playing with the team, arguing that Hernandez's participation creates unfair and unsafe conditions for female athletes. The plaintiffs were identified only by initials in court records: H.H., A.M., and M.M. The filing alleges harassment, describing alleged incidents of unwanted contact with female teammates during practices, games and huddles, including touching or slapping.

Hernandez is a standout athlete for Jurupa Valley. She helped the Jaguars win a league title and led the team to an undefeated league record last season, according to court filings and local coverage. Hernandez has also earned state medals in the long jump and triple jump, illustrating a broader athletic résumé beyond volleyball. OutKick previously reported on one of Jurupa Valley's matches this season, noting an overt performance edge that drew strong reactions from supporters of the opposing team.

Hernandez's mother has dismissed the lawsuit as defamatory, saying in a response to the East Bay Times that the filing contains false claims, fabricated evidence and harassment. The Times noted that the website did not provide specifics, and her account did not offer further details about the counters.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom, which has supported the plaintiffs, have emphasized the belief that girls' sports should be reserved for female athletes and that policies allowing transgender competitors can raise fairness and safety concerns. The legal action adds to a broader national conversation about transgender participation in girls' sports and the logistical challenges schools face when debates spill onto the competition field. District officials and opponents alike say the season has been unsettled by the wave of withdrawals, leaving many games unmatched and creating a patchwork schedule for teams that previously expected to play a full regional slate.