The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
There is no doubt which school reigns supreme over Moore League beach volleyball because Wilson played without any doubts against Millikan on Thursday at the Long Beach City College Sand Courts.
“We were definitely really confident, maybe a little nervous, but the whole time we had the mentality that we’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Wilson senior Kierin Adams said.
Wilson completed its undefeated league season by beating Millikan 4-1 to clinch its fourth constitutive league championship in the fourth year of the sports existence.
“We knew that if we came out and played like we had all season that it would go well,” Wilson senior Kate Vanderwal said. “The ball was in our court.”
Vanderwal and her partner Dani Dobie were one of two Wilson duos that won decisive third sets to clinch the victory and league title.
“That was super close. You start to feel good and momentum shifts quickly out here,” Wilson coach Jeremy Cook said. “We’ve had it the other way where we were down 1-2 and won, so anything can happen and when you go to those third sets it’s scary.”
In the No. 2 flight, Vanderwal and Dobie looked great in a 21-17 set one win over Millikan’s Sarah Thaut and Bethany Arnold. The Rams bounced back and took the second set 21-17 before the Bruins were able to limit their own errors and win a dramatic third set 16-14 and start the championship celebration.
“They were playing some of their best volleyball today, and they’ve lost some tough matches so they’re battle tested and that helped them today,” Cook said of Vanderwal and Dobie. “They needed everything they had.”
In the No. 4 flight, Wilson’s Jane Morrison and Iyla Alvarado bounced back from a 19-21 first set loss to Millikan’s Mikayla Brumbelow and Johanna Swerdloff to take the second set 21-14 and the third set 15-4.
“They’ve been models of consistency and I think they’re 16-2 on the year,” Cook said of Morrison and Alvarado. “They went down in the first set and if any team was going to go down that was the one I didn’t worry that much about. In set three they went up big in the beginning and played their style of volleyball.”
Wilson’s Simrin Adams and Sadie Calderone set the tone in the Flight No. 1 with a 21-16, 21-16 victory while Kierin Adams and Peyton Agura were also dominant in Flight No. 3 with a 21-14, 21-13 victory.
“I think it’s so awesome to be able to do this and be the first championship winners of this sport,” Kierin Adams said. “I just wanted to go all out and play the way I want to play. Hopefully I’ll be able to carry beach volleyball with me wherever I go.”
Adams and Vanderwal were honored with a Senior Day ceremony before the match.
“We’re lucky to have seniors like that,” Cook said. “They’re straight A students and great teammates who are super supportive. They’re very coachable, competitive, they’re the exact type of players you want in your program. I’m so glad to be able to coach them for a few years. I think the (standard) they’ve set is going to carry on when they leave.”
“Just to be able to make our mark on the new program is really exciting,” Vanderwal said. “I hope to keep playing beach volleyball during college, maybe on the side just for fun. You’re in the sun and in the sand. It’s just so fun.”
Next Wednesday is the Moore League finals as each team sends four duos and the top two advance to CIF competition.
Below are the scores for each of the five flights:
Simrin Adams/Sadie Calderone (WIL) def. Aubrey Greene/Sophia Orbiso (MIL) 21-16, 21-16
Kate Vanderwal/Dani Dobie (WIL) def. Sarah Thaut/Bethany Arnold (MIL) 21-17, 17-21, 16-14
Peyton Agura/Kierin Adams (WIL) def. Bella Bonales/Lila Walters (MIL) 21-14, 21-13
Jane Morrison/Iyla Alvarado (WIL) def. Mikayla Brumbelow/Johanna Swerdloff (MIL) 19-21, 21-14, 15-4
Olivia Vitz/Madison Jones (MIL) def. Kyra Bryant/Na’ima Lewis (WIL) 21-12, 17-21, 9-15
