The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
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The Long Beach Poly and Millikan girls’ volleyball match had everything you’d expect from a clash between two of the Moore League’s top teams.
The Ron Palmer Pavilion stands were filled with Jackrabbit faithful draped with their nations’ flags around their shoulders as Poly celebrated heritage night. However, a night that looked like the Jackrabbits were on their way to a sweep, quickly changed as the Rams had something to say about that in the third set.
Millikan led 24-21 in the third set when freshman Keola Napoleon Alvarez stepped to the end line. The freshman served five straight points – including three aces – as Poly came all the way back to defeat Millikan 25-9, 25-18, 26-24 on Thursday night clinching at least a share of the Moore League title.
“I just need to keep it in,” Alvarez said about what was going through her mind with her team facing a set point including three aces. “I know my teammates got it on defense. We’re locked on defense, so I knew that we were going to be okay.”
Poly (24-9, 11-0) jumped off to a quick start as the Jackrabbits took a 5-0 lead in the first set with Cika Talaga serving. The Jackrabbits continued to put pressure on the Rams (18-9, 7-4) as they pushed the lead to 11-1 before taking a 25-9 win.
Looking to get back into the match, Millikan made some adjustments that worked in their favor as they took a 2-0 lead thanks to Aubrey Greene who found her way passed the Poly block.
The Jackrabbits and Rams took turns going back and forth as they had three ties, before Poly started to get back in a rhythm as McKenna Iamaleava got things going offensively and defensively. The junior finished with 16 kills and 11 kills for the double-double on the night.
“We all wanted to come prepared because last game it went to five sets,” Iamaleava said. “So we knew we could go in three. Last time it was really hard, so we just wanted to hold this one off.”
The Rams continued to fight in the third set and Millikan’s defensive adjustments started to shine through as they jumped out on Poly after being tied 5-5. From there the Rams went on a 13-6 run to take a 18-11 lead looking to force a fourth set.
“In the second and the third set, it was really our blocking,” Millikan coach Antoinette De la Espriella said about how the Rams started to get back into the match. “Our blockers showed out, and it really helped us play hard. So we were able to transition into our offense a lot better.”
The Rams offense fed off their defense and Aubrey Greene and Willow Lebron got into the action as both had five and six kills, respectively.
Poly started to chip away at the Millikan lead and cut the Rams’ lead to 21-19, but the visitors kept pushing as they took a 24-21 lead looking to force a fourth set.
However, Napoleon Alvarez stepped to the line and served five straight points to help Poly mount the comeback to take the set 26-24.
“What I was most proud of was in that third set, overcoming adversity and these girls getting together when adversity happens and locking in and fighting for each other,” Poly coach Gerald Aquiningoc said.
Poly’s Lauren Foster had 21 assists, while Millikan’s Lila Walters had 18 assists.
The Jackrabbits close the season looking to finish the Moore League season unbeaten when they take on Wilson on Tuesday, while the Rams have a few more contests – including their Moore League finale against Lakewood.
