The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2025 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.
Things were looking shaky for Wilson beach volleyball after the first set of their playoff matchup against Dos Pueblos on Thursday afternoon. The Bruins lost three of the five opening games on the LBCC sand courts, and were already playing without two of their starters.
But that’s when the Moore League champions got focused and battled back on their way to victory. The Bruins and Chargers had the match come down to three decisive third sets, with the host Bruins winning two of them to secure a 3-2 victory and a trip to the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.
“It was scary,” said Wilson head coach Jeremy Cook of his team facing the early deficit on three of the five courts. “We had talks between the first and second games, just about attitude, and it was night and day. We kind of flipped the switch on them. I’m just proud of our girls for not giving up. To bounce back and have a whole different mentality in that second set, we’re really happy to see that.”
With regular starters Kate Vanderwal and Kierin Adams out of town and unavailable for Thursday’s match, Wilson had to shake up its lineup, bringing Peyton Agura up from the third flight to team up with Dani Dobie on Court 2 for the Bruins. It was only the third time they’d been paired together this season, and set one didn’t go to plan with Dos Pueblos winning 21-10.
“I thought that if we lost that, our season would be over. And we don’t want the season to be over yet. This is our first CIF game, it’s just the beginning,” said Dobie of getting focused after falling behind. “That just flipped a switch in me, and I was like, we’re gonna win this. We just had that mindset switch, because we just didn’t want the season to be over yet.”
Dobie and Agura were able to huddle up between sets and find their rhythm, winning set two 21-13 before claiming the match-clinching point with a 15-9 win in set three.
The Bruins got their lone sweep of the afternoon on Court 3, where Iyla Alvarado and Jane Morrison won with identical 21-17, 21-17 set scores. Coach Cook praised their tenacity throughout the season as they remain unbeaten as a duo in 2025. Though their point was acquired in less dramatic fashion, it was just as important to Wilson’s team victory.
“They’re killers, they’re focused, they’re not afraid of anyone,” Cook said of his No. 3 squad. “They’re good friends and have been playing together for a long time, but as a pair together this year, they’re 13-0; they don’t lose. They’ve just got the mentality of ‘we’re gonna win this.’ They’re doing an amazing job.”
Wilson also got a point from Court 1, where Simrin Adams and Sadie Calderone scored a 21-17, 11-21, 15-8 victory for the second Bruins point of the match. The Moore League pairs champions were tested thanks to a rocky second set, but got things back on track for a comfortable win in set three.
Wilson will play in the quarterfinals next Wednesday, making the drive up the coast to play Santa Barbara High. The Bruins made a run to the CIF semifinals last year, but are looking to take it one round further this time, taking it one match at a time.
“We’re pumped for the next game,” Agura said. “I think this kind of humbled us a little bit that we can’t just roll through playoffs. We’re gonna have to lock in and get them all done. And I think we’re all pretty much in that mindset now. We’re all focused on getting to the finals.”
Full Match Results
Court 1: Simrin Adams/Sadie Calderone (WIL) def. Halle Rillie/Atasha Black (DP) 21-17, 11-21, 15-8
Court 2: Dani Dobie/Peyton Agura (WIL) def. Allie Ben-Yaacor/Char Welch (DP) 10-21, 21-13, 15-9
Court 3: Iyla Alvarado/Jane Morrison (WIL) def. Carly Letendre/Ruby Streatfield (DP) 21-17, 21-17
Court 4: Eleni Becker/Ella Payne (DP) def. Milan Lewis/Kyra Bryant (WIL) 21-10, 19-21, 15-8
Court 5: Maggie Squires/Abby Pfarr (DP) def. Sage Darling/Madison Castillo (WIL) 21-6, 21-19
