This spring should be a fun one for Long Beach high school volleyball fans, as the Moore League features a rare legitimate four-team race for the league title. Two of those teams, Wilson and Millikan, met on opening day Tuesday afternoon. Both teams showed flashes of the skill that has them in the title hunt, but it was Wilson who served tough and played with big emotion in a sweep, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22.
“That felt really good,” said Wilson coach Jeremy Cook. “We’ve been losing close matches, a lot of two-point wins. To see it come together a little is great.”
The Bruins trailed in the first and third sets but served their way back into it both times. In the first, libero Leo Pravednikov dished up a 7-0 run that included two aces to put Wilson back on top.
Sophomore Payne Lounsbery was stellar for Wilson, leading the way offensively with seven kills, as well as running the show as one of the two setters employed by the Bruins.
“This win means a lot to us,” said Lounsbery. “It’s really the first game where we’ve gelled.”
Garrett Fletcher also had seven kills for Wilson.
For Millikan coach Matt Johnson, it was a frustrating loss where he didn’t feel his team played their best.
“We were missing a lot of energy and intensity and I wish we’d given it our all,” he said.
The Rams got 11 kills from Spencer Spaulding.
Millikan will travel to Lakewood next Tuesday in another big league showdown.
