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Two more games were scratched from the schedule for a California high school girls’ volleyball team after opponents decided to forfeit, adding to a controversy that erupted over a transgender player on the team.

Maribel Munoz, the mother of one of the girls on Jurupa Valley High School’s girls’ volleyball squad, confirmed the news to Fox News Digital after the team’s coach, Liana Manu, emailed parents to let them know about the new forfeits. Munoz said the forfeits included games against Rim of the World High School, originally scheduled for August 25, and Orange Vista High School, scheduled for August 29.

Jurupa Valley Unified School District (JUSD) also issued a statement about the forfeits, which the district made clear it had not called. “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,” JUSD said.

The district also noted it is required to comply with California law protecting students from discrimination based on gender identity. Citing Education Code 221.5 (f), JUSD said “schools must allow students to participate on athletic teams that are consistent with the students’ gender identity.”

That position, the district noted, has also been expressed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. She added that the critics are treating Hernandez, a child, as if she were an adult. “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.

“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 added, saying it was working on rescheduling games so the athletes would not lose the chance to compete.

The news of the forfeits comes after a similar move by Riverside Poly High School, which backed out of a scheduled August 15 matchup against Jurupa Valley. Parents of girls on the team and a member of Riverside’s school board confirmed to Fox News Digital that this was their motivation for calling off the game, saying it was because the Jurupa Valley team has a transgender player on its roster.

“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 said the reason people might be concerned about Hernandez playing is that she is petite. “But this is not what makes her special. Her skill, not her strength, is what sets her apart,” Hernandez continued.

She added that the critics are treating Hernandez, a child, as if she were an adult. “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.

The transgender player and her family have been in the national spotlight previously. In the spring track and field season, Hernandez won two California state titles, in the long jump and triple jump. That led to protests from female athletes and their parents at the event. Many wore shirts that read “Save Girls’ Sports.” Former President Donald Trump also posted a message on Truth Social ahead of the state finals, saying California should not allow a transgender athlete to compete, though he did not mention Hernandez by name.

In July, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over its policies allowing transgender athletes to play on girls’ teams, even though Trump had signed an executive order in February to try to ban that.