Supporters of Santa Rosa Junior College’s women’s volleyball team packed Haehl Pavilion by the hundreds Wednesday night in an extraordinary show of solidarity for a team thrust suddenly into an unwelcome spotlight for reasons other than sport.

Backers carried signs and others wore clothing with pro-LGBTQIA messaging, signaling support for a team and school program facing legal action filed by three student-athletes alleging their rights were violated by the presence of teammate they contend is transgender. The three rostered players aired a litany of grievances in their Sept. 3 complaint, including allegations they were put in physical danger by the presence of their teammate.

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In part because of the publicity that followed, the first home match for the Bear Cubs was expected to draw protestors, but those demonstrations never materialized Wednesday. Instead, the gym was packed with parents, student athletes from other SRJC teams and scores of other fans.

The opening serve of the match against Hartnell College of Salinas came after months of escalating tensions that stretch back to 2024 but which spilled out into the open last week, when the three student athletes took their grievances public.

The three players, none of whom were suited up for Wednesday’s match, filed their complaint with the U.S. Department of Education accusing the school and the California Community College Athletic Association, or CCCAA, of multiple Title IX violations by allowing a transgender athlete to play for the team.

In the 23-page complaint, the players — sisters Madison Shaw, a sophomore, and Gracie Shaw, a freshman, and Brielle Galli, all of Windsor — contend their trans teammate poses a physical threat to fellow Bear Cubs as well as opponents, echoing some of the same allegations made in a case that engulfed San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team last year.

The SRJC trio also accuse school officials of disregarding their concerns over the course of many months, leading to all three players to sit out a number of early season matches. They seek to have the junior college and the state’s other affiliated community colleges stripped of all federal funding and hit with monetary penalties and sanctions, and for a “sex verification screening” program to be imposed.

The Press Democrat is not naming the player identified in the complaint because she has not spoken publicly about her gender identity.

SRJC spokeswoman Sarah Pew declined comment, instead re-issuing a prepared statement, saying the school “is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and employees. The District complies with California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) regulations, which govern student eligibility and participation in our athletic programs.  We respect the legal privacy rights of all students and cannot discuss individual circumstances. What we can affirm is that SRJC takes all reports seriously and responds through established procedures.”

Volleyball head coach Ally Sather declined comment after the Bear Cubs’ four-set loss Wednesday via school athletic director Matt Markovich.

The complaint alleges that SRJC, in following state CCCAA policy, has denied and continues to deny athletic opportunities for women by allowing someone they contend is transgender to occupy a roster spot. It also alleges student athletes are prevented from making an informed decision about their participation in a sport because the CCCAA policy does not require schools to disclose information on rostered athletes that would run counter to the CCCAA Transgender Participation Policy and privacy rights guaranteed under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

“Both SRJC and the (CCCAA) understand their policies and practices violate Title IX and that they allow men to steal women’s educational opportunities and fail to safeguard women’s rights and opportunities,” the complaint reads.

Players on the volleyball team have declined comment but appear to have rallied around their singled-out teammate. One parent, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution against any players or coaches, said school officials have met with players since Sept. 3, advising student-athletes on mental health as well as safety precautions related to where they park their cars, how they enter and exit buildings and other personal safety measures. Players have reported being filmed, this person said.

Title IX, the landmark 1972 law, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Under the Biden administration, it was used in a way that sought to safeguard the rights of LGBTQ individuals on campus.

Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the law has been used far differently. Trump in February issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” and the federal Department of Education has launched investigations into San Jose State and other campuses that have allowed transgender athletes to compete. The NCAA promptly made changes to its policy to limit those competing in women’s sports to individuals assigned female genders at birth.

The attorney who filed the complaint against SRJC, William Bock III, also led the high profile lawsuit last year against San Jose State, citing the inclusion of a transgender athlete on the Spartans volleyball squad.

The Santa Rosa players behind the complaint put forward conflicting descriptions of why they have not played in early season matches. They say both that head coach Sather benched them in retaliation for their stance on their teammate’s participation, but also that they did not participate in protest of violation of their Title IX rights.

Of the three complainants, only Galli — The Press Democrat’s Player of the Year last season as a senior at Windsor High School — has played any minutes this season for the Bear Cubs. According to the complaint, after sitting out a number of early season matches, Galli told Sather on Aug. 28 that she would return to the lineup “under protest.” On Sept. 2, Madison Shaw left the team, according to the complaint. Gracie Shaw remains a rostered player but had not participated in any of the Bear Cubs first 10 matches coming into their  home opener Wednesday night.

None of the three complainants were on the bench or in the lineup Wednesday against Hartnell College.

Madison and Gracie Shaw spoke to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. Despite having publicly named the player in their Title IX complaint, neither of the sisters identified her by name in the interview, instead calling her “this male athlete” and “the male athlete.”

They acknowledged that other teammates have not joined their complaint, nor supported their assertions of being in physical danger or in violation of federal law.

“But, a majority of our team, unfortunately, doesn’t see it the way we see it. They support the male athlete being on the team,” Madison Shaw told Fox News Digital.

That’s true, said a second parent. Asking not to be identified because of safety concerns, the parent said the team has rallied together in the wake of the public complaint and what was described as the targeting of a teammate. The student athletes have bonded, the parent said, all while hoping the focus can return to volleyball.

You can reach Staff Writer Kerry Benefield at 707-526-8671 or [email protected].