EXCLUSIVE: Three young women in southern California are filing a lawsuit against the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the California Department of Education (CDE) and the Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) over the inclusion of a biological male transgender athlete on the Jurupa Valley High School girls’ volleyball team. 

The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleged the plaintiffs “have suffered sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, unsafe and unfair athletic environments, viewpoint discrimination, and infringements on their religious liberty and safety” as a result of Jurupa Valley rostering the trans athlete. 

The plaintiffs in the case are current players Alyssa McPherson, Hadeel Hazameh, former player and McPherson’s older sister Madison McPherson, and their families. Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson recently withdrew themselves from the team in protest of the trans athlete, they previously told Fox News Digital. 

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The plaintiffs are being represented by the law firm Advocates for Faith & Freedom. 

The lawsuit alleged that Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson were recently removed from the team group chat after telling their coach they were “uncomfortable sharing the volleyball court and locker room with a male student.” The plaintiffs also claimed that the school’s practices have violated the girls’ religious liberties.

“Plaintiffs have been intimidated by an intentionally hostile environment created by Defendants wherein they were bullied by school officials to censor their objections to competing with, and against, a male and to sharing intimate and private spaces with a male,” the lawsuit reads. 

The McPherson family, who identify as practicing Catholics, claimed to “believe that God created human beings as male and female and that gender is a fixed characteristic that cannot be changed. Their faith informs their understanding of human identity and shapes their views regarding the importance of recognizing and honoring the distinctives of male and female as created by God,” per court documents.

Meanwhile, Hazameh and her family identify as practicing Muslims “whose religious obligations prevent H.H. from exposing her hair or body to males, including by wearing a hijab. Guided by Islamic teachings, they believe that men and women have distinct biological differences, roles, and responsibilities, which should be respected and upheld,” per court documents. 

“Their faith emphasizes modesty, dignity, and the honoring of gender distinctions which must conform with one’ biological sex in both practice and identity.” 

Girls’ volleyball players Hadeel Hazameh, Alyssa McPherson and Madison McPherson (Courtesy of Advocates for Faith & Freedom)

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and to have the trans athlete, AB Hernandez, removed from the team, claiming the athlete’s presence has led other schools to forfeit games to Jurupa Valley this season. So far, four confirmed opponents have forfeited matches to Jurupa Valley amid national scrutiny over Hernandez’s participation in girls’ sports. 

Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson competed alongside Hernandez throughout their entire high school volleyball careers. Madison McPherson is a former teammate of Hernandez. 

COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OPEN UP ON TRANS TEAMMATE’S ALLEGED SPIKES TO THE HEAD

But this season, Hernandez’s final high school season, opened with widespread controversy after the trans athlete claimed two girls’ state championships in track and field last spring. 

The postseason meets that Hernandez competed in were met with protests by female athletes and their families, who often wore the “Save Girls Sports” T-shirts. In the days leading up to Hernandez’s state championship victories, President Donald Trump sent a post on Truth Social warning California officials and Governor Gavin Newsom not to allow a trans athlete to compete in the state finals. 

The CIF amended its policies to reward any female athlete that finished behind Hernandez, but still allowed the trans athlete to compete, and ultimately win the girls’ high jump and triple jump, and second place in long jump. The female athletes who finished one spot behind Hernandez shared the podium spots alongside the trans athlete. 

Then in July, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the CDE and CIF for its policies that have allowed biological males to compete in girls’ sports across the state despite Trump signing an executive order in February to prohibit it. 

That lawsuit is ongoing. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the CDE, CIF and JUSD for a response to the lawsuit filed by the McPhersons and Hazameh, but has not received a response. 

The school district previously provided a statement exclusively to Fox News Digital, suggesting blame for the ongoing controversy involving Hernandez should be directed toward government officials and lawmakers. 

“School districts do not write laws for the state of California, nor do they have the power to ignore them or change them. However, as primarily state-funded agencies, they are required to follow them. As these issues play out in our courts and the media, any advocacy on these matters should be directed at state and federal officials elected to make laws and policies that affect public education,” the statement said.

“We empathize with all students who are impacted by issues beyond their control. JUSD is committed to upholding the law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of, among other characteristics, gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation in any program or activity, ensuring that all pupils feel safe, supported and affirmed for who they are at school.”

A bipartisan survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found a majority of California residents oppose biological male trans athletes competing in women’s sports. 

That figure included more than 70% of the state’s school parents.

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“Most Californians support requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams matching the sex they were assigned at birth,” the poll stated. 

“Solid majorities of adults (65%) and likely voters (64%) support requiring that transgender athletes compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not the gender they identify with. An overwhelming majority of public school parents (71%) support such a requirement.”

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DAYTON – The Wright State men’s basketball team and head coach Clint Sargent announced the Raiders’ 2025-26 non-conference schedule on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by five home contests inside the Nutter Center as part of a slate that includes three first-time opponents and some familiar foes.
 
Season tickets are on sale now, with opportunities to purchase single game tickets set to go on sale in the coming months. Wright State’s Horizon League schedule was announced last week.
 
The Raider non-conference schedule is highlighted by continuing a pair of longstanding in-state matchups with home contests against Toledo and Miami (OH) and an opening week trip to take on California, in addition to previously the announced game at Butler and taking part in the Greenbrier Tip-Off.
 
“I’m very pleased with how our non-conference schedule came together and want to thank our staff for their hard work,” Sargent said of the slate. “We aimed to create a competitively balanced schedule that challenges our team and provides opportunities to grow, while giving our fans plenty of chances to support us at home and on the road.”
 
The Raiders will officially open the season at home on November 3 against Franklin College before a cross-country trip and their first-ever matchup with California. The early season trip will be Wright State’s first visit to the state of California since the Raiders’ 2022 NCAA Tournament matchup against Arizona that was played in San Diego. The last time the Raiders played on the West Coast during the regular season was a trip to Seattle in 2009 when they opened the season at the Athletes in Action Classic. The state of California was also the site of Wright State’s first-ever win as an NCAA Division I institution, with the Raiders earning a 110-97 road victory over the former United States International University in San Diego on November 28, 1987.
 
Wright State returns home to the Nutter Center to take on Toledo for the 17th time in program history on November 11 before taking part in the Greenbrier Tip-Off November 15 and 16 against Radford and Kent State. The Raiders host Ohio Wesleyan at home on November 20 before finishing the month on the road, first in Florida on November 25 at Stetson before renewing a series with former Horizon League foe Butler on November 28 in Indianapolis.
 
The Raiders close out the non-conference with three December matchups, first traveling to Marshall on December 13 before a pair of home contests inside the Nutter Center. Wright State and Miami (OH) square off for the 41st time on December 16 before the Raiders host Eastern Michigan on December 22.
 
Wright State returns six players from a season ago while adding seven newcomers (four transfers, three freshmen). Logan Woods started 25 games in 2024-25 while shooting 48 percent overall, while Michael Imariagbe (18 starts, 64 percent shooting) and Solomon Callaghan (11 starts, 41 percent shooting) also had double-digit starts and shot over 40 percent from the floor and Andrea Holden connected at a 65 percent shooting clip with five starts. Transfers Sam Alamutu, TJ Burch, Bryan Etumnu and Dominic Pangonis join the Raiders with collegiate experience, along with redshirt freshmen Alex Bruskotter and Ayden Davis and true freshmen Michael Cooper, PJ Douglas and Kellen Pickett.
 
OPPONENT INFO

Franklin College (Nov. 3, Nutter Center)
Franklin ended 2024-25 with a 22-8 overall record and won the Heartland tournament title, advancing to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 before falling to Washington University in St. Louis in the national tournament. Wright State and Franklin have met eight times previously, with the Raiders winning all eight times. The first matchup came in February 1974 and the most recent meeting was in January 1985.
 
Cal (Nov. 6, Berkeley, CA)
Cal finished with a 14-19 overall record and a 6-14 ACC record in its first year in the conference, falling in the second round of the ACC Tournament. Cal was 11-6 at home last season. Wright State and Cal have never met on the hardwood.
 
Toledo (Nov. 11, Nutter Center)
Toledo was 18-15 overall in 2024-25 with a 10-8 MAC record, ending the year in the second round of the MAC Tournament. Toledo was 6-9 in true road games last season. Wright State and Toledo have met 16 times previously, most recently last November, with the Raiders having won three of the last five contests in an 8-8 overall series.
 
Greenbrier Tip-Off (Nov. 15-16, White Sulphur Springs, WV)
– Radford (Nov. 15) finished 20-13 last season with a 9-7 Big South record, ending the year in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament. Radford was 7-9 in true road contests last season but 3-1 in neutral matchups. Wright State and Radford have never met on the hardwood.
– Kent State (Nov. 16) was 24-12 in 2024-25 with an 11-7 MAC record, advancing to the NIT Quarterfinals. The Raiders have faced Kent State seven times previously, with four of those meetings coming since 2016, in a short series with the in-state foe that dates back to the 1973-74 campaign.
 
Ohio Wesleyan (Nov. 20, Nutter Center)
Ohio Wesleyan finished 2024-25 with a 15-12 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference, ending the year in the NCAC tournament semifinals. Ohio Wesleyan was a combined 7-8 in contests away from home last season. Wright State and Ohio Wesleyan have never met on the hardwood.
 
Stetson (Nov. 25, DeLand, FL)
Stetson was 8-24 last season with a 6-12 mark in the ASUN, ending the year in the opening round of the ASUN tournament. Stetson was 5-9 at home in 2024-25. Wright State and Stetson have met three times previously, facing off in Florida in January 1974, January 1975 and January 1976.
 
Butler (Nov. 28, Indianapolis, IN)
Butler ended 2024-25 with a 15-20 overall record and a 6-14 mark in Big East play, concluding the season in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown. November’s matchup will be the 44th meeting all time between the former Horizon League foes and the first time since February 2012.
 
Marshall (Dec. 13, Huntington, WV)
Marshall was 20-13 overall and 12-6 in Sun Belt action last season, ending the year in the Sun Belt tournament quarterfinals. Marshall was 14-3 at home in 2024-25. Wright State and Marshall have faced off five times previously, including a Raider win last season inside the Nutter Center.
 
Miami (OH) (Dec. 16, Nutter Center)
Miami (OH) finished 2024-25 with a 25-9 record and a 14-4 MAC mark, ending the year in the MAC Championship game. Miami finished with a 15-1 home record last year, with its lone blemish coming in November as the Raiders handed them a 13-pint defeat in the 40th all-time meeting between the schools.  
 
Eastern Michigan (Dec. 22, Nutter Center)
Eastern Michigan was 16-16 last season with a 9-9 record in the MAC, falling in the opening round of the MAC tournament to close the season. Eastern Michigan was 6-10 on the road last season. This marks just the second meeting between Wright State and Eastern Michigan in a series that started last December.

This position will provide assistant track/field coach duties assigned by the Head Men’s and Women’s Coaches for Track/Field within the spirit, policies, and rules of Coe College, the American Rivers Conference, and the NCAA III in a manner that will further the fitness, wellness, personal, social, and academic development of Coe students. This position is responsible for vigorously recruiting students, including telephone recruiting, off-campus recruiting, and on-campus recruiting as assigned by the Head Men’s and Women’s Coaches for Track/Field. Plan, organize and supervise the activities/practices/competitions as assigned by the Head Men’s and Women’s Coaches for Track/Field, and any additional Responsibilities assigned by the Director of Athletics.

• Previous coaching experience is preferred.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa s at this time.
• Successful completion of a background and driver check in accordance with Coe College policy.
• Work harmoniously with coaches of all sports teams, athletic staff members, faculty members, and college administrators.
• Exhibit exemplary personal conduct and character traits.
• Serve as a role model for student-athletes.

About Coe College / Athletics

Coe College is a private liberal arts college located in Cedar Rapids, IA. Coe was founded in 1851, and offers a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic excellence with approximately 1,400 students. Kohawk Athletics compete in the NCAA Division III, and belongs to the American Rivers Conference. The Kohawk Athletic and Recreation Complex underwent a transformative $18 million renovation, creating a contemporary multipurpose sports hub with a new performance arena, locker rooms, weight room, and fitness bridge.

Connections working at Coe College / Athletics