Long Beach Poly girls’ is one of the city’s best program-builders, and the job he’s done with the Jackrabbits over the last two seasons has been remarkable. In his first season in 2023 Poly was co-Moore League champs with Wilson, snapping a three-year title drought. Then last year, with his team’s culture fully formed, the Jackrabbits went 29-13, winning an undefeated Moore League championship and claiming the CIF-SS Division 3 title before going on to a run in the CIF State playoffs.
The Jackrabbits graduated their Division 1 middles, who were the co-Moore League Players of the Year, but return nearly every other major contributor from last season, as well as adding new talent. Their lower levels look strong as well, as Aquiningoc hopes that the combination of coaching and talent can keep Poly on the way up.
“I think being here for the third year now, we just have a better foundation, the culture of the program is in such a healthy state right now,” said Aquiningoc, who agreed that the numbers and talent level in his program are up. He said that’s not entirely how he measures progress, however. “I measure the state of it by the girls’ experience. The sisterhood is really strong–we’re at a place as a program that we weren’t at last year or the year before. So I measure our progress by the strength of our bond.”
Leading the way for Poly at outside hitter is Cedra “Cika” Talaga, a star junior who recently committed to the University of Illinois. Talaga is joined this year by her little sister, Cadence “Cheeky” Talaga who will be an immediate contributor as a freshman.
“Everything’s going great right now, I think we’ll be really good with some key pieces back,” said Cika Talaga. “I get to play with my sister and my best friend and that’s an amazing feeling.”
Setters Hannah Ballungay and Lauren Foster are back from last year, and will have plenty of options–on the outside it’ll be Talaga and junior McKennah Iamaleava taking a lot of swings, with returning stud Aleeya Salima playing opposite. In the middle it’ll be Dayna Lagafuina and Allison Wetteland, with transfers Abryannah Mama and Addison Roberts waiting for the sit-out period to end. Cheeky Talaga and Keola Napoleon Alvarez will be the team’s liberos.
Expected major contributors Taimane Poe and Avery Milburn are both out with injury, which is hampering Poly’s expected depth.
Aquiningoc said his hope for this year is to continue to return Poly to the heights the Jackrabbits were at more than a decade ago, when they defeated Redondo Union for the Division 1 title.
“I want Long Beach Poly to be a program that is known for being strong consistently for volleyball,” he said. “We have a long way to get there–but I want to be there.”
Saleema said that one of the big drivers for the team has been their experience of winning championships together last year.
“We have a really good sisterhood already,” she said. “Last year we won CIF because we were so proud of each other and supported each other so much–we’re proud of the name on the front and the back of our jersey. Gerald has set a standard and I think everyone tries to live up to that standard.”
Poly got a big emotional boost as a program with the announced eligibility of McKenna Iamaleava. She and her younger sister transferred into Poly last year, but weren’t eligible to play. Their oldest sister Nicaylah was a major contributor to Poly as was their older brother Matt, who signed with Long Beach State. Their older brothers Nico and Madden are well-known as quarterbacks, but the Iamaleava volleyball connection at Poly has always been strong–so strong that even when she wasn’t eligible, Kennah was still at every practice and match helping out last season.
“Everyone was so ecstatic when we found out she was cleared,” said Talaga. “She’s been a huge part of our team and now we get to be on the court with her too.”
Aquiningoc is excited for this year and just as excited about the future, with a Poly program starting several underclassmen. But more than that he said he’s happy to be at Poly and to build a culture he’s proud of.
“It’s amazing here, there’s no place like this,” he said. “The admin is the best I’ve worked with, the support is at another level. Our team and our school is a family and we all support each other and want each other to succeed.”
