LONG BEACH – Iyla Alvarado and Jane Morrison went from competing under the radar to being thrust into the spotlight Saturday for Long Beach Wilson, but it only made the moment that much more meaningful for the Bruins competing against Moore League rival Long Beach Millikan in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 beach volleyball final.
With most of the attention focused on the third set of the showdown on the second court at Long Beach City College involving Long Beach Wilson’s Kate Vanderwal and Danielle Dobie against Long Beach Millikan’s Aubrey Greene and Sophia Orbiso, Alvarado and Morrison continued to gradually pull away from Mikayla Brumbelow and Johanna Swerdloff in the No. 4 matchup, as the Bruins just needed one of the two victories to secure their first title.
When Dobie and Vanderwal requested a medical timeout late in the third set, it allowed all the Long Beach Wilson supporters to sprint over to the fourth court, just in time to celebrate Alvarado and Morrison punctuating a 21-19, 18-21, 15-11 victory that clinched the third point and the championship for Long Beach Wilson.
Despite Greene and Orbiso prevailing by a 21-17, 17-21, 21-19 margin against Dobie and Vanderwal once play resumed on their court, the Bruins still earned a 3-2 triumph and a season sweep against Long Beach Millikan.
Long Beach Wilson earns third win against Moore League rival Long Beach Millikan to win CIF-Southern Section Division 2 beach volleyball crown | Erik Boal photo
Long Beach Wilson (18-4) also produced a 3-2 victory March 18 against the Rams (14-5), in addition to a 4-1 win April 3 to secure the league title.
Following a first-round bye in the playoffs, Long Beach Wilson won three of their postseason matches by 3-2 margins, including Thursday’s semifinals against Capistrano Valley Christian, as well as the championship.
The Bruins regrouped after suffering a 3-2 setback to eventual Division 2 champion Oaks Christian in last year’s semifinals to win their first section crown, joining Division 3 winner Long Beach Poly in representing the Moore League.
Long Beach Wilson also lost 3-2 in the 2023 quarterfinals to eventual Division 2 runner-up Capistrano Valley Christian.
Long Beach Millikan reached its first division final after being eliminated in last year’s Division 2 quarterfinals by top-seeded Crean Lutheran.
The Rams earned the first point Saturday when sophomores Bella Bonales and Lila Walters cruised to a 21-19, 21-10 victory at the No. 3 pairing against Long Beach Wilson’s Kierin Adams and Peyton Agura.
Long Beach Wilson rallied for a 3-2 triumph against Long Beach Millikan to secure its first CIF-Southern Section Division 2 beach volleyball title | Erik Boal photo
The Bruins pulled even following a 21-16, 21-18 win by junior Milan-Synai Lewis and freshman Naima-Lene Tilivala-Lewis at the No. 5 pairing against sophomores Macy Blackman and Olivia Vits.
Simrin Adams and fellow sophomore Sadie Calderone rallied for a 19-21, 21-16, 15-8 victory against junior Bethany Arnold and sophomore Sarah Thaut at the No. 1 pairing to give Long Beach Wilson a 2-1 advantage, before the drama of the final two courts unfolded in their respective third sets.