{"id":522390,"date":"2026-11-08T03:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/522390\/"},"modified":"2026-11-08T03:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T03:42:09","slug":"long-beach-poly-volleyball-beats-redondo-union-in-cif-ss-final-with-epic-finish-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/522390\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach Poly volleyball beats Redondo Union in CIF-SS final with epic finish \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

The Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team poses with their championship plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship match Saturday at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026.
\nPhoto by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Redondo Union girls volleyball team watches Long Beach Poly receive their CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship plaque at Cerritos College on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
\nPhoto by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Redondo Union girls volleyball team poses for a photo with the runner up plaque following the end of Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship match against Long Beach Poly at Cerritos College on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
\nPhoto by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Cedra Talaga gets a hug and kiss from her father, EJ, after her team\u2019s win over Redondo Union following Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 6, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team celebrates their win over Redondo Union at the end of Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 5 final at Cerritos College on November 6, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Leah Blair serves the ball during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final against Long Beach Poly at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team celebrates their win over Redondo Union at the end of Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 5 final at Cerritos College on November 6, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Mckennah Iamaleava (5) celebrates a point during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final against Redondo Union at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Gabriela Kumagai receives a serve during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final against Long Beach Poly at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Abigail Hairrell (17) and Leah Blair try to block a hit by Long Beach Poly\u2019s Mckennah Iamaleava during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Cedra Talaga serves the ball during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final against Redondo Union at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Leah Blair tries to hit the ball past Long Beach Poly\u2019s Avery Milburn during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Abigail Hairrell (17) and Leah Blair try to block a hit by Long Beach Poly\u2019s Mckennah Iamaleava during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Abigail Hairrell tries to block a hit by Long Beach Poly\u2019s Avery Milburn during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Asofiafia So\u2019oto celebrates a point during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final against Long Beach Poly at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Aleeya Salima hits the ball past Redondo Union\u2019s Addison Uphoff during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Mckennah Iamaleava hits the ball over Redondo Union\u2019s Abigail Hairrell (17) and Redondo Union\u2019s Brooke Bradford during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

\"Redondo<\/p>\n

Redondo Union\u2019s Asofiafia So\u2019oto hits the ball past Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kerida Leomiti (40) and Alison Wetteland during Saturday\u2019s CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026. Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 18<\/p>\n

The Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team poses with their championship plaque after winning the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship match Saturday at Cerritos College on November 7, 2026.
\nPhoto by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

NORWALK \u2014 The Long Beach Poly girls volleyball team might not be the tallest, with only one player listed above 5-foot-10, but the team collectively has the soul of a 6-foot-4 outside hitter.<\/p>\n

Poly used its championship experience, grit and will to claw back from the brink of defeat Saturday at Cerritos College.<\/p>\n

The Jackrabbits scored the game\u2019s final four points to secure a thrilling victory over Redondo Union in five sets, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14, to win the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship.<\/p>\n

It is the Jackrabbits\u2019 second CIF-SS title in three seasons and the program\u2019s fourth overall.<\/p>\n

Facing championship point, Poly trailed 14-12 in the fifth set but rallied and scored four consecutive points, capped by junior outside hitter Avery Milburn\u2019s championship-clinching block.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means everything to me,\u201d Milburn said of the victory. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working so much in practice and going into this game, I was like I\u2019m going to give my all or nothing. So that last point, that\u2019s my all or nothing. I was going to block that ball no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redondo\u2019s 6-foot-4 middle blocker, Abigail Hairrell, made it 13-12 with a kill. Poly\u2019s side out put the Sea Hawks up 14-12. Consecutive points by Milburn and senior outside hitter McKennah Iamaleava, who is committed to UC Irvine, tied it at 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when the sisterhood comes in,\u201d Iamaleava said, \u201cand I\u2019m really proud of our team for pulling through because we know when to lean on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poly (29-7) was led by Iamaleava\u2019s game-high 29 kills, including a pivotal point that made it 15-14 in the fifth set and set the stage for Milburn\u2019s winning point.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all grit and heart,\u201d Long Beach Poly coach Gerald Aquiningoc said. \u201cOur team is full of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Senior outside hitter Aleeya Salima had 18 kills. Milburn also finished with 18 kills.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe practice to be big and play as big as them, but we get it from inside of us,\u201d Milburn continued. \u201cIt\u2019s what we hold inside and our energy and how we push through, even in tough times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redondo Union (22-12) was led by sophomore outside hitter Asofiafia So\u2019oto with a team-high 17 kills. Hairrell had 11 kills.<\/p>\n

Poly, which won the Division 3 title in 2024 over Bishop Diego, defeated Redondo Union 3-2 in its regular-season finale on Oct. 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll week we were saying we need to beat Redondo, we need to beat Redondo, but we didn\u2019t take them lightly because we know they\u2019re a great team,\u201d Iamaleava said.<\/p>\n

Both teams qualified for the CIF State playoffs. The brackets will be released Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Poly jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the first set and pulled away late to win it 25-19. Iamaleava had eight kills and seven digs early. Salima had seven.<\/p>\n

Redondo responded and led 12-10 midway through the second set. Salima\u2019s kill made it 12-11, and junior setter Kerida Rose Leomiti\u2019s lob shot tied it at 12. The Sea Hawks scored three straight points to take the lead, 18-15, before winning the second 25-20. So\u2019oto carried Redondo in the second set with seven kills.<\/p>\n

Poly regained momentum and led 16-11 midway through the third set. The Jackrabbits won that set 25-18, capped by Leomiti\u2019s block. Poly led 2-1 in sets.<\/p>\n

With its back against the wall, Redondo jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set. Poly cut Redondo\u2019s lead to 17-16 late in the fourth. Iamaleava\u2019s kill tied it at 17 all.<\/p>\n

Redondo\u2019s miscue gave the Jackrabbits the lead, 18-17. Milburn\u2019s kill made it 19-17. Senior middle blocker Alison Wetteland\u2019s block made it 22-19.<\/p>\n

Redondo battled back and tied it at 22. Salima\u2019s point made it 23-22. Junior middle blocker Braunwyn Brown\u2019s block won the fourth set for Redondo, 25-23.<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly girls volleyball wins the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship game over Redondo Union. <\/p>\n

Poly wins it in five sets, 16-14, after trailing 14-12. pic.twitter.com\/svClsx5Imy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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