LONG BEACH \u2014 In a meeting of league champions, the Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team overwhelmed Campbell Hall with its collective firepower Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits led wire to wire for a sweep, 25-17, 25-23, 25-14, of the Vikings in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.<\/p>\n
Poly (26-7), the Moore League champion, got a balanced effort from hitters Aleeya Salima, McKennah Iamaleava and Avery Milburn. Salima had a match-high 13 kills, Iamaleava added 12 and Milburn chipped in nine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen (Salima) goes off, it just opens up everybody else too,\u201d Jackrabbits coach Gerald Aquiningoc said. \u201cThat three-headed monster of Aleeya, McKennah and Avery, when they all go off together, it\u2019s pretty scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poly will play at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (24-10) in the quarterfinals Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits have won five in a row and 14 of their last 15 matches.<\/p>\n
Campbell Hall (21-8), the Gold Coast League champion, was also put on its heels from the service line. The Vikings lost the battle, 10-5, as Cheeky Talaga served four aces and Cika Talaga had three for the Jackrabbits.<\/p>\n
Both coaches agreed that Poly\u2019s serving set the tone for the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey serve really tough,\u201d Campbell Hall coach Kat Thyer said. \u201cIt put a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Aquiningoc: \u201cOur service pressure, our first attack, is our most important thing. Just eliminating an offensive option to help us with our defensive systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Vikings were paced by Lailaa Williams and Maya Harris, who collected eight kills apiece.<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits\u2019 block, led by Alison Wetteland, was able to limit the pair to just four kills in the opening set.<\/p>\n
Wetteland finished with three of Poly\u2019s four blocks, including two in the first frame.<\/p>\n
Salima and Milburn got off to a quick start, combining for nine kills in the opening set.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think slowing down their offense from getting touches on the block, and also keeping ourselves in system,\u201d Salima said of the difference. \u201cSo that when we had a good pass, we scored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iamaleava erupted for seven kills to lead the way in the second set, including the clincher.<\/p>\n
Campbell Hall did not go away quietly.<\/p>\n
The Vikings trailed by as many as seven points at the midway point of the second set before chipping away. A 4-1 run trimmed the deficit to 22-21, the first of three times Campbell Hall got within a point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we decided to start to play a little bit harder, a little bit smarter,\u201d Thyer said. \u201cPicking up points that we dropped in the first set, so we did a good job learning from that first set. But we just fell short.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Williams and Harris) did a great job tonight. I always see a lot of effort from Maya and Lailaa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iamaleava needed just one swing from the left side to give Poly the commanding 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince we\u2019re all so close, our bonds are super tight,\u201d Iamaleava said. \u201cWe try our best to stay as a team and I think that really helped us tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits raced out to a 5-1 lead in the final set and led by as many as 13 to cruise to victory.<\/p>\n
Aquiningoc said he was pleased with his team\u2019s ability to keep its emotions in check for the postseason opener at home.<\/p>\n
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