The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers.
The 2025 CIF-SS Beach Volleyball Championships had the feel of a Moore League showcase, with three Long Beach teams playing for championships on the Long Beach City College sand courts.
First up, Long Beach Poly took care of business with a thrilling win over Canyon in the Division 3 title match, setting the tone for an epic clash between Wilson and Millikan for the D2 crown. The Bruins and Rams played a very even match, with Wilson surviving with a 3-2 win to earn the program’s first CIF title and give the Moore League a pair of CIF titles in a two-hour span.
Poly trailed Canyon 2-1 in the first championship final, needing to win the last two matches to emerge victorious. It all came down to Court 4, where Simone Millsap and Alyssa Luna survived multiple match points for Poly with the antire crowd watching their match. The Jackrabbits were able to win 17-15 in the third set to clinch the title and set off the first celebration of the day.
“It was a battle from beginning to end,” head coach Litara Keil said. “I don’t think there was ever a break for relief and I think this whole playoff series it’s been like that where we’re down and we have to come back and the girls have come back on top every single time.”
In the next match, Wilson was able to defeat Millikan for a third time in the 2025 season, and the third win was certainly the toughest to attain. With the score tied 1-1, the remaining three matches went to a decisive third set, with a pair of nail-biters on Courts 2 & 4. The Bruins got the clinching point from Iyla Alvarado and Jane Morrison on Court 4, as the pair improved to 14-0 on the season.
After reaching the CIF semifinals the year prior, Wilson’s stated goal was to make it the CIF finals. Not only did they get there, but they got the gold, capping off a memorable season of beach volleyball as Long Beach looks to stake its claim in the emerging CIF sport.
“So much credit to Millikan. They’re outstanding,” said Wilson head coach Jeremy Cook, fresh off the championship celebration. “They’re such good sports, and we knew it was gonna be tough. They’ve been battling us hard since we started this whole thing, so a ton of credit to Millikan, and then I’m just so proud of our girls for refusing to lose. As a team, we’ve won 17 straight, and we’re not winning easily, but we were winning. It’s unbelievable.”
