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EXCLUSIVE: Two California high school seniors, Hadeel Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson, are currently involved in a legal battle against their school district for alleged violations of Title IX, the federal law ensuring gender equity in educational programs and activities. These girls, who once proudly represented Jurupa Valley High School’s volleyball team, found themselves walking away from the sport in September due to concerns surrounding the inclusion of a transgender player on their team.
The legal situation escalated as Hazameh and McPherson sought to support their team during its first state playoff game, held recently. However, the girls claimed that their volleyball coach, Liana Manu, denied their request to sit with their teammates during the critical match.
Earlier this month, both athletes had attended their senior night with the team. Yet, upon approaching the coach about sitting on the bench during the playoff game, they were met with disapproval. Hazameh recounted an interaction with her coach, stating, “We were just going to respect her and ask her, ‘can we sit on the bench?’ and she was like, ‘Unfortunately, no, today you can’t.'” Although Manu offered to elaborate on her decision after the game, Hazameh declined.
McPherson also attempted to clarify her situation by texting Coach Manu before the game. She reached out around 4:30 PM, asking if she could join her teammates on the bench, following the coach’s earlier directive that individuals must ask for themselves. Unfortunately, no response came.
Frustrated but determined to support their team, Hazameh and McPherson purchased tickets to watch the game among spectators. There, they joined relative supporters who had gathered to protest the situation. This event drew considerable attention online, with footage of their presence circulating on social media platforms.
One viral video captured a moment where two women in the bleachers appeared to direct hostile gestures towards Hazameh and McPherson. In another clip, attendees enthusiastically cheered for the match while simultaneously confronting the athletes. Hazameh claimed that one supporter shouted at her to stop recording the event.
The state playoff game resulted in a decisive victory for the Valencia team, ultimately concluding the season for Jurupa Valley High School.
Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding their protests, Hazameh and McPherson felt a sense of relief as the season came to an end. McPherson expressed her wish that the situation could resolve quickly, remarking, “I just wanted it all to end. No one deserves to be knocked out of the playoffs because of an unfair advantage.” Hazameh echoed her sentiments, expressing pride in the efforts of their biological peers.
Reflecting on their recent experiences, both players conveyed a sense of disbelief that their high school careers had culminated in wishing for their team to lose. The repercussions of the ongoing controversy weighed heavily on them, and Hazameh recalled feeling overwhelmed while reading past text messages exchanged with friends.
Among the messages, one from the summer read, “I pray that my senior year is as amazing as your guys’ year, and I just hope that I have an amazing year.” This interaction prompted an emotional response from Hazameh, who lamented, “I just broke down in tears because my senior year has absolutely been horrible, and everything that I was excited for and looking forward to just crumbled.”
The girls faced not only emotional challenges but also social backlash, including negative messages on social media and unfriendly encounters within school hallways. They even alleged that the school’s principal exacerbated the situation by instructing the volleyball team not to engage with them in a sportsmanlike manner.
Despite the adversity, both Hazameh and McPherson remain resolute in their decision. They believe they are advocating for the right cause, expressing their intent to continue participating in high school sports. They plan to rejoin the girls’ track team in the spring, regardless of whether the transgender athlete will also compete.
The two girls are prepared to face the challenges ahead as seniors, fully aware of the ongoing lawsuit against the school district. Last year, the transgender athlete previously claimed two state titles in girls’ track events, including triple jump and high jump, a fact that adds complexity to the situation.
Both Hazameh and McPherson reflect on their decisions with determination, expressing a commitment to advocate for their beliefs, even if it means sharing the field with athletes whose participation they challenge.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Jurupa Unified School District and the volleyball booster club of Jurupa Valley High School for their comments regarding the situation.
Stay tuned for further updates from around the world of sports.
