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Despite both teams without their head coaches for their CIF Quarterfinal matches, the Millikan Rams and Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits took care of business Tuesday afternoon at Long Beach City College. Millikan hosted San Clemente, and Poly hosted Laguna Blanca with both Long Beach teams advancing to the semifinals on 3-2 wins.
The Rams were on the sand first against the Tritons. Millikan was focused on bringing the energy into all five of their matches.
“I think our team thrives on the energy and just the environment that we create going into these games,” Assistant coach Faith Jones said.
The Rams got some dominant wins from their pairs. Junior Sophia Orbisbo and freshman Madi Jones got Millikan going with an early win. In two sets, the pair took down San Clemente’s Simone Griffin and Scarlet Caldwell 21-11 and 21-15. Sophomore Sarah Thaut and junior Beth Arnold got another two-set win for the Rams in the form of 21-13 and 21-16 over Lucy White and Kylie Smart
San Clemente was able to even the score with two wins of their own. The Millikan coaching staff said they knew this quarterfinal was going to be a battle, but they had been ready for it.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy going into this quarterfinal match,” Assistant coach Andy Jaszczynski said. “We were prepared for a good five. However, we’ve had a great practice yesterday, the day before, preparing specifically for this team that we were facing.”
However, this battle was one to the very end. The deciding factor on who would move on to the CIF-SS DII semifinals lied on court four, where the Ram duo of freshman Jo Fitz and Mikayla Brumbelow were hosting Lacey Lou Haggar and Ryan Cuenca.
The pair dropped the first set 18-21 but tightened up to take the next two 21-9, 15-12 and send the Rams through.
“I feel like that first set, we were still warming up,” Brumbelow said. “But that second set, we finally put our minds to it, knew exactly who we’re going for. That really helped us keep our mind in the game and make smart plays.”
Going to a third set meant Fitz and Brumbelow were the last Millikan pair playing. All eyes at the LBCC beach volleyball courts were focused on Fitz, Brumbelow, Haggar, and Cuenca. Whoever took the final set was punching their team’s ticket to the semifinals.
“I knew that it was all on us, but I knew we could do it,” Fitz said. “We work really good under pressure, and we have a lot of teamwork together and a lot of perseverance, and I think that’s what helped us get through.”
Despite being a freshman senior pairing, it is both Fitz and Brumbelow’s first year competing in beach volleyball. They played as indoor teammates, but transitioned to beach just this year. The assistant coaches said the duo transitioned easily, especially when paired together.
“They’re both competitive and they can push each other,” Jones said. “So, I think going from a six person game to a two person game was the perfect opportunity for them to show their determination, their grit and their readiness to play. Super good pair.”
At the end of the day, Jones and Jaszcyzynski both credited their team’s energy to their success.
“The girls supporting each other from one court to another, screaming, ‘Hey, nice job. You did that so well,’” Jaszcyzynski said. “And momentum, very important. It’s about getting that point, getting the next one, moving on, learning from your mistakes, and kind of building onto that which you already got.”
The energy surrounding the Rams stayed on the sand for the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits to pick up. Poly hosted Laguna Blanca in the CIF-SS DIII quarterfinals and pushed themselves through to the semifinals with a 3-2 win.
JV head coach Meaghan Sefuiva stepped in for the Jackrabbits’ quarterfinal match. Poly was also missing some of their key players, so there was a mixture of pairs going up against Laguna Blanca.
“We were short some players, but we felt good coming in, knowing that we had to have each other’s back,” Sefuiva said.
The Jackrabbits got some key wins on the sand from two of their pairs. Finley Stuart and Vivienne Irwin beat Charlie Carrington and Erin Slifirski from Laguna Blanca in two sets. The Poly duo came from behind to take their first set 21-18 before finishing their job with a 21-16 win in set two.
“They kind of attacked everything that we needed to work on,” Sefuiva said of her team’s victories. “Today, they pulled through, playing for each other and having each other’s back.”
Simone Millsap and Alyssa Luna took down Mitra Mehrabi and Emie Valle in two sets. The game was a face off with plenty of fight on both sides, but ultimately the Jackrabbits came away with the win 21-15 in both sets.
Due to missing pieces for Poly, Millsap and Luna had never played with each other prior to their quarterfinal match. Communication was key for the duo, Millsap, one of the team captain’s, said.
“I think big or not, like a pair that’s played a lot together or not, just if you’re talking a lot on your side, it’s always going to be good,” Millsap said.
Laguna Blanca had some success, as well. Seniors Chloe Gidney and Cyanne Blabey defeated Poly’s Taimane Poe and Giselle Millsap. Sophomore Lolayna Redmond and senior Daphne Shiebler also got a win for the visitors against Lauren Foster-Elisara and Dayna Lagafuaina.
Jackrabbit duo Londyn Foster-Elisara and Aleeya Salima sealed the deal for Poly, taking down Laguna Blanca senior Danica Rux and junior Sage Holcombe in two sets. The team is looking toward the semifinals where they plan to bring the same energy to the sand.
“ I think we got far, and we shouldn’t give up yet. We work really hard every game,” Luna said.
Both teams will be back on the sand Thursday for their semifinal match ups. In Division II, the Rams will host South Torrance. The Jackrabbits will travel to Linfield Christian in Temecula for the Division III semifinal.
Full Match Results
Millikan vs. San Clemente
Court 1: Sarah Thaut/Beth Arnold (Millikan) def. Lucy White/Kylie Smart (San Clemente) 21-13, 21-16
Court 2: Malia Schilling/Hayden Shanafelt (San Clemente) def. Bella Bonales/Lila Walters (Millikan) 21-12, 21-17
Court 3: Sophia Orbisbo/Madi Jones (Millikan) def. Simone Griffin/Scarlet Caldwell (San Clemente) 21-16, 22-20
Court 4: Jo Fitz/Mikayla Brumbelow (Millikan) def. Lacey Lou Haggar/Ryan Cuenca (San Clemente) 18-21, 21-9, 15-12
Court 5: Eden Severson/Kyla Currie (San Clemente) def. Macy Blackman/Olivia Swerdloff (Millikan) 21-8, 21-19
Long Beach Poly vs. Laguna Blanca
Court 1: Aleeya Salima/Londyn Foster (LBP) def. Danica Rux/Sage Holcombe (Laguna Blanca) 21-18, 21-16
Court 2: Chloe Gidney/Cyanne Blabey (Laguna Blanca) def. Taimane Poe/Giselle Millsap (LBP) 24-22, 21-16
Court 3: Lalayna Redmond/Daphne Schiebler (Laguna Blanca) def. Dayna Lagafuaina/Lauren Foster-Elisara (LBP) 21-12, 10-21, 15-5
Court 4: Simone Millsap/Alyssa Luna (LBP) def. Mitra Mehrabi/Emie Valle (Laguna Blanca) 21-15, 21-15
Court 5: Finley Stuart/Vivienne Irwin (LBP) def. Charlie Carrington/Erin Slifirski (Laguna Blanca) 23-21, 21-18
