The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2023-24 is brought to you by the MLP’s Bay Area Breakers.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial
The Wilson boys’ volleyball team has been one of the most dominant teams in the city for the last three seasons, piling up three Moore League titles while rarely dropping a set in league play. On Tuesday evening they hosted a 9-1 Long Beach Poly team that had a big upset on its mind. The Bruins big hitters bombed away, but the Jackrabbits were able to make enough plays and scrap their way to a thrilling victory in a landmark volleyball match showing Long Beach talent, 20-25, 25-17, 17-25, 25-19, 15-13.
“When we started the season we knew we were going to be good, we didn’t know how good we could be,” said Poly coach Sid Davidson. “They have to believe in themselves. We know Wilson is the defending league champs, we have to give them their respect. But we had a little bit of an edge.”
Poly senior captain Lucky Iosua said he was proud of he and his teammates for the victory. Iosua led a complete team effort for Poly with a team-high 13 kills, 9 digs and two blocks.
“I think we can take it really far this year,” he said. “We’re all really invested, we just have to trust ourselves on the court and keep pushing.”
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The first set started out looking like a Wilson blowout, as star Bruins Marek Turner and Ian Nolte put down big-bounce kills that skied off the hardwood towards the gym’s roof. The Bruins led comfortably wire to wire, and Davidson said he talked to his team candidly after they dropped the opening frame 25-20.
“I told them, ‘You guys look defeated already,’” said Davidson. “‘All you have to do is play the way you’ve been practicing and how you’ve been playing against these other teams.’”
The Jackrabbits came out motivated in the second set and jumped out to a 10-6 lead. They were buoyed by a host of Bruins hitting errors, as the Bruins had 11 hitting or net errors along with four service errors in the set.
The Jackrabbits rode Iosua’s big night but also saw setters Olii Ogelsby and Jackson Trunnelle spread the ball around, combining for 46 assists. Poly won the second set but knew the Bruins would charge back in set three, which they did, winning 25-17. The Jackrabbits had their backs against the wall in the fourth set and delivered, winning it 25-19 to force a fifth set.
The Bruins led 9-7 and looked on their way to a win, as once again Turner and Nolte thumped home big points. But the Jackrabbits dug in, getting a pair of kills from Matt Tsao as well as a double call on Wilson and a Bruin hitting error to flip the story and take a 12-9 lead. The Jackrabbits went up 14-11 on a kill by Iosua, but the Bruins didn’t go away, as Turner got a kill and then they pulled within a point at 14-13 on a Poly hitting error. But the Bruins’ serve went into the net and Poly won the fight and decisive set 15-13.
That set off a huge celebration among the Poly team and crowd. Davidson didn’t bother with any coachspeak after, acknowledging, “That’s a huge one off our back,” he said. “Huge.”
In addition to Iosua, Poly was led by Tsao’s 10 kills, eight from John Hiveley and seven from KJ Hill. Ogelsby and Jonas Gutierrez led the way with 11 digs apiece.
Wilson was led by Nolte’s 15 kills and Turner’s 14, as both played great defense as well.
“We knew that those guys were going to get theirs, especially with their monster serves,” said Davidson. “We just wanted to make the other guys step up.”
The two teams continue action this week as Poly visits Lakewood on Thursday and Wilson hosts Cabrillo.
