The562’s coverage of high school volleyball in 2024-25 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.
In terms of size and style, the Wilson girls’ volleyball program couldn’t look much different. The Bruins lost top outside hitters Chloe Pravednikov and Babi Gubbins to graduation after a co-Moore League championship and postseason run last year.
Now it’s up to underclassmen like sophomore Simrin Adams to keep Wilson on track, and so far so good. The Bruins have already won six of their first eight matches this season with marquee wins over Harvard-Westlake and Downey.
Wilson coach Chris Ceballos said that he’s, “Excited and surprised by how well these girls responded trying to carry on that legacy from last season.”
In order to do that Ceballos has helped his team change their style to fit their physical ability. Despite not being as big as they were last year, the Bruins are feisty.
“This year is more about being smart, strategic, trying to extend plays and being focused on the defensive side,” Ceballos said. “We’re not as dynamic on offense, but we’re more balanced. Everyone knew what we were going to do last year. This year we can move the ball around and still get the same success while utilizing more players.”
Sophomore Simrin Adams had a breakout freshman year on the other side of the big Wilson hitters, and now she’s growing into a game-changing leader who can play the front and back row as a six-rotation hitter.
“I feel I learned last year that the sun I can have on the court, while still being serious about the game, is something I bought last year and I want to bring this year,” Adams said. “This year we know we’re undersized and we have more fire. It’s never letting the ball drop and playing with that attitude.”
When Wilson is completely healthy, which Ceballos hopes will happen this week before the Lakewood match, Adams will be joined by fellow outside hitter Peyton Agura. Senior Kate VanderWal will be joined by freshman Naima Lewis at middle blocker while senior setter and team captain Kierin Adams quarterbacks the attack. Sophomore Sadie Calderone is tabbed as the right side hitter.
Adams got extra motivation for this season by watching all of the beach and indoor volleyball she could this summer. That also helped her want to be a better teammate.
“Watching the Olympics and seeing players I’ve met before, like Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes, play with such good team work… they like to hold hands when they switch sides and hug each other after every point,” Adams said. “That’s the type of player I aspire to be. That kind of person who can carry that amount of emotion.”
Wilson starts the Moore League schedule on Thursday against Lakewood.
“We need to work on the fast offensive stuff because we have a good blocking set up and our defense is good, we just have to read better and know where the ball is going to go, ” Adams said.
