The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
It was a familiar setting Thursday at LBCC, as Millikan and Wilson met at the same site as last year’s CIF-SS Division 2 beach volleyball championship for their first regular-season matchup since the Bruins won that title last May.
This year’s rematch came on a hot 90-degree day at LBCC, but the result was the same for Wilson, as the Bruins outlasted a shorthanded Millikan team and the heat to sweep the Rams 5-0.
“There were a few girls that were really feeling the heat today but they just dug deep, and I’m proud of them for overcoming that,” said Wilson coach Jeremy Cook. “Even though it was a sweep it didn’t feel that close. Millikan is always good even being shorthanded today but you couldn’t tell. I’m impressed by them and I’m super proud of my girls.”
The final match came down to Court 2, where Wilson’s Ilya Alvarado and Jane Morrison were tied after a gritty 23-21 second-set win from Millikan’s Johanna Swerdloff and Bella Bonales. Alvarado and Morrison then trailed for most of the third set before closing strong to secure Wilson’s 5-0 sweep.
“It’s actually really fun at that moment and I really like it,” Morrison said of being the last team standing. “I think we were both really tired but when all of our teammates came over it kind of made my adrenaline go up and I think we started to feel hyped up with each point once they turned up.”
The pair have come a long way since their freshman and sophomore years, working their way up from Court 5 to Court 2. The duo finished last year on a 17-game win streak and have started this season 10-1, putting in work during the offseason with private lessons that helped prepare them for moments like Thursday.
“Just being partners for so long and also being friends outside of volleyball we know how to communicate especially in heat when we don’t want to talk,” Alvarado added. “We know how each other plays and we feed off of each other’s energy, so we’re able to play better by supporting each other.”
Court 1 featured the only true rematch from last May’s CIF-SS championship, as Wilson’s standout pair of Simrin Adams and Sadie Calderone faced Millikan’s Sarah Thaut and Bethany Arnold. Despite a strong close to the second set from Thaut and Arnold, Wilson secured the win at set point as Calderone sent a swing to the right corner for the 21-15, 21-19 victory.
The win for Adams and Calderone marks their 11th straight victory to open up the season as the pair continues to make an argument as one of the best in Southern California. Adams is a Stanford commit while Calderone is committed to play at San Francisco.
“It’s a luxury that almost no other coach has when you have that pair on Court 1,” Cook said. “It gets close but you just kinda know they’re going to find a way because they always do. They’re winners and there’s a reason why they’re going to be playing at the next level. Credit to Sarah and Bethany because they gave them a battle and they’re such a great team.”
Aside from that pair on Court 1, Millikan only had one other court with its usual starting partners together, as the Rams had to fill in for several players out for the day. Ella Reyes and Lucy Morris stepped up to Court 4 after typically playing on Court 5, while every other Millikan pair had no more than one match of experience together.
“I think today everyone did a good job falling into their roles, but it just took a little too long to get to that final point,” said Millikan coach Antoinette de la Espriella. “I’m playing the long game with this team because I know we’re going to get enough wins to get into CIF, so while the little losses like this suck, it’s a moment for me to teach these girls to be mentally resilient. Like we had three courts go to game three, and we have to close those outs.”
One of those other three-set matches came on Court 5, as Wilson’s Charlie Ginsberg and Alex Beverly came back from an 11-21 first-set loss to complete the reverse sweep. Peyton Agura and Madison Castillo also closed out a third-set victory, while Wilson’s most dominant match came from Dani Dobie and Sage Darling in a 21-13, 21-6 sweep on Court 4.
Both teams will be back in action Tuesday, as Wilson gears up for a tough matchup against Long Beach Poly before Millikan faces Lakewood.
Final Results:
Court 1: Simrin Adams/Sadie Calderone (WIL) def. Sarah Thaut/Bethany Arnold (MIL) 21-15, 21-19
Court 2: Ilya Alvarado/Jane Morrison (WIL) def. Johanna Swerdloff/Bella Bonales (MIL) 21-19, 21-23, 15-11
Court 3: Peyton Agura/Madison Castillo (WIL) def. Madison Jones/Samantha Guzman (MIL) 21-10, 8-21, 15-8
Court 4: Dani Dobie/Sage Darling (WIL) def. Ella Reyes/Lucy Morris (MIL) 21-13, 21-6
Court 5: Charlie Ginsberg/Alex Beverly (WIL) def. Hannah Martin/Maddie Gray (MIL) 11-21, 21-10, 15-5
