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Long Beach Poly Uses Late Rally to Win Division 4 Quarterfinal – The562.org

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial. They say good things come to those who wait. That was certainly the case for Long Beach Poly on Wednesday afternoon in their CIF-SS Division 4 Quarterfinal game. The Jackrabbits waited until the sixth inning to come alive in a late 9-2 win over […]

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4 weeks ago

May 22, 2025

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The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.

They say good things come to those who wait.

That was certainly the case for Long Beach Poly on Wednesday afternoon in their CIF-SS Division 4 Quarterfinal game. The Jackrabbits waited until the sixth inning to come alive in a late 9-2 win over Santa Monica.

“They waited long enough. I’m used to them coming out and putting runs up early, you know, but they wanted to make it a little bit exciting today,” Head coach Elizabeth Sanches said. “They waited until the sixth inning, and it was the first time we’ve been behind, so it was nice for us to fight back from that early deficit.”

The first 2.5 innings went by fast at Santa Monica High School. The game went through five innings in just an hour of playing time.

Although the innings were going by quickly, that doesn’t mean it was knotted at zero the entire time.

After the Jackrabbits went down 1-2-3 in the top of the third, Santa Monica’s leadoff hitter Yermian got the Vikings going with a single to center. After she was moved to third on a walk and bunt, the catcher stole home on a wild pitch to put Santa Monica on the board first.

The Jackrabbits, who have outscored their opponents 25-4 in playoffs thus far, were now trailing for the first time since beginning their run.

“When I see that slow start, I get antsy, because it’s like knowing what your Christmas present is and just waiting until Christmas morning to unwrap it and finally say that it’s yours, that’s kind of the same way I feel about these girls,” Sanches said. “They’re like precious little gifts, but they have to be the ones that figure it out, and they have to be the ones that make the adjustments.”

The adjustments were certainly made, and the sixth inning was a completely new ball game for the visitors.

“We always try to push it through, going to the end, knowing that it could be our last,” Kween Tauala said of her team’s mentality. “We knew we were going to do good and play Poly softball. That’s all we do: play Poly softball.”

The Jackrabbit offense woke up when Victoria Sepulveda led off with a single to center and was moved over after Persja Lam Sam was hit by a pitch. The runners advanced to second and third after a groundout and were now in prime scoring position with only one out.

That was when Tauala stepped to the plate. The senior belted a two RBI single to centerfield to finally put the Jackrabbits on the board and give them the lead 2-1.

“I started school late today, so before the game I decided to work low outside,” Tauala said of her single. “I had my brother toss me some balls because I knew I was going to have to stay outside and go with the ball.”

But, this was only the beginning for Poly. Janelle Morris, who has been hot at the plate during CIF, smacked a two run home run to left field immediately after Tauala’s single.

The rally continued when Alayna Veavealagi and Bailey Holder hit back-to-back singles and were brought around on a two-out RBI double from Sepulveda. The Jackrabbits had now hit through their entire lineup to blow open the sixth inning against Santa Monica.

“This was a little test to their character, how you can rebound from an early deficit and they did it,” Sanches said. “It’s like that ‘Never say die’ mentality, it’s that contagious mentality that they have when one of them steps up and gets it going, it’s like the whole damn team steps up and gets it going.”

The Vikings tried to respond in the bottom half of the inning, but only managed to cross the plate once on a past ball. Heading into the final frame, Poly led 6-2.

Tauala reached base first off an error at first base. Once Veavealagi hit a single to put two runners on, it was Holder that delivered for the Jackrabbits this time. The freshman hit an RBI double to bring in both runners and increase Poly’s lead.

She was immediately followed by Sunni Vaafuti, who scored Holder on an RBI single to left field. These insurance runs put the visitors up 9-2 heading into the final three outs.

“We’ve had powerhouse performances out of the top part of our lineup, but today, the bottom and middle produced,” Sanches said. “It’s really cool, and it’s important because these games are so close and the competition is so stiff. We need all 18 girls for a win, and that’s what they’re doing.”

Things looked shaky, as the first two hitters got on base for Santa Monica. However, Poly’s starting pitcher Tegan Breaux locked it down with a strikeout to get Poly’s defense back on track.

A pop fly would put the Jackrabbits one out from advancing to the CIF semifinals when Myers hit a single to left field. While this could have scored a run for the Vikings and possibly sparked a rally, Santa Monica’s Paysinger, who had reached on a walk, was caught in a pickle between second and third.

Just like they’d practiced, Poly chased down Paysinger until Emoni Lam Sam was able to tag her out and end the game for the Jackrabbits with a 9-2 final score. Breaux went the distance in the circle, striking out seven and scattering four hits across the seven innings.

“We limited our mistakes,” Sanches said of her team’s shift in the late innings. “We made a couple of mistakes early on in the game, and there were a couple things that didn’t go our way. What was really cool about today was everyone picked each other up.”

After punching their ticket to the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals, Poly will play again on Saturday against Harvard-Westlake. Sanches said she is excited for her team to keep this momentum going.

“I’m excited, this is a great group of girls,” Sanches said of her squad. “I feel that momentum, I feel that energy. I have the highest expectations in the world for these girls, but again, as long as we play the best version of ourselves and we don’t worry about who’s on the other side of the field, we’re gonna be just fine.”

As the stakes get higher, Tauala said she has complete confidence in her team. Sanches has described her players as fighters, and Tauala said nothing is changing: they will keep fighting and sticking to Poly softball.

“From the beginning to now, we have always had great infield and outfield,” Tauala said. “I just know now that knowing now this is do or die, we’re going to put it all out on the field and give it all to the game.”

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Taste of France for beach referee Hanrahan

Volleyball England official Sarah Hanrahan has recently travelled to France to referee at the Vienne Beach Open. Experienced on the stand both indoors and on the beach, she took charge of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and women’s final earlier this month. The competition was part of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Beach Tour. French speaker Sarah, from Warrington, […]

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49 seconds ago

June 20, 2025

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Volleyball England official Sarah Hanrahan has recently travelled to France to referee at the Vienne Beach Open.

Experienced on the stand both indoors and on the beach, she took charge of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and women’s final earlier this month.

The competition was part of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Beach Tour.

French speaker Sarah, from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “It was a great day of beach volleyball, with fantastic weather.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for me to practise refereeing beach volleyball, ahead of NEVZA Beach in Bridlington at the end of June.

“It was really nice to referee in France again, and to see my old coach, Thierry Placette, as well as make new referee aquaintences.

“In the evening, I managed to find time to do a bit of sightseeing. Vienne is beautiful with fascinating history, including a cathedral and an impressive restored ancient Roman theatre.”

Tournament images by Tyson Masailanga.

If you are interested in becoming a referee, click here for more information.

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Sycamore trio post top-10 finishes Thursday at 2025 USATF U20 Championships

Story Links EUGENE, Ore. – Three Indiana State track and field athletes combined to earn four top-10 finishes Thursday on the opening day of the 2025 USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field The Sycamores’ distance duo of Gnister Grant and Peyton Smith both carded top-10 finishes in their respective […]

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19 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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EUGENE, Ore. – Three Indiana State track and field athletes combined to earn four top-10 finishes Thursday on the opening day of the 2025 USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field

The Sycamores’ distance duo of Gnister Grant and Peyton Smith both carded top-10 finishes in their respective events, while Emma Yoder earned top-10 marks in both of the throws events she competed in.

Smith opened the day for the Blue and White with a career-best performance in the 5000m, running a time of 16:52.17 to finish ninth in the event. Thursday’s performance was a 10-second PR for Smith, who also climbed up to eighth in program history in the event, finishing the season as one of five Sycamores with an indoor or outdoor 5000m time under 17 minutes during the 2024-25 campaign.

Yoder also had a career-best performance Thursday in the hammer throw, finishing with a top mark of 52.89m (173-6) to place eighth in the event. The 2025 MVC Outdoor Track and Field Co-Freshman of the Year also carded an eighth-place finish in the discus with a top throw of 47.01m (154-2), capping a season which saw her win the MVC title in the discus as a freshman.

Grant closed the day for the Blue and White by finishing 10th in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:22.52. Thursday’s performance was Grant’s fifth steeplechase under 11:25 this season, and also gave the Sycamores a top-10 finish in the event at the USATF U20 Championships for the second straight year after Ryan York finished ninth on the men’s side last season.

Up Next
Olivia Marshall closes the 2024-25 Indiana State track and field season Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET when she competes in the shot put at the 2025 USATF U20 Championships.

Follow the Sycamores

For the latest information on the Sycamore Track & Field and Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.

– #MarchOn –

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Volleyball State Semifinals: Pinkerton spiked by Coe-Brown

NASHUA – Justin Scott was well aware of the tall task at hand. Taking on undefeated Coe-Brown Northwood, the No. 1 team in New Hampshire, who Pinkerton had lost to in a 3-0 sweep just weeks prior, he knew a potential upset would be a colossal duty. Advertisement “Coe-Brown is a really, really good team,” […]

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20 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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NASHUA – Justin Scott was well aware of the tall task at hand.

Taking on undefeated Coe-Brown Northwood, the No. 1 team in New Hampshire, who Pinkerton had lost to in a 3-0 sweep just weeks prior, he knew a potential upset would be a colossal duty.

“Coe-Brown is a really, really good team,” said Scott. “There’s a ton of athletes, they’re big, they jump, they simply crush it every game.”

Unfortunately, Scott was right on June 10. Coe-Brown dominated from the opening point, sweeping Pinkerton on their way to the finals, 3-0.

“Our plan was to try to keep them on their heels serving, and we had some really good swings, they just have a great Libero,” said Scott. “Coe-Brown has no holes, they have guys that can do it all.”

It’s not an understatement to consider Coe-Brown’s 2025 campaign as arguably the most dominant in New Hampshire volleyball history. They’re not just undefeated — they’re winning everything with ease.

In fact, the No. 1 seed has swept every team, 3-0, except for one match, a five-set thriller versus the No. 2 seed, Dover.

It seemed to be a collision course for those two powerhouses, until No. 3 Hollis-Brookline stunned Dover in five sets, setting up their match versus Coe-Brown on Saturday afternoon in the title game.

While Pinkerton had a respectable first set, falling 25-16, the next wasn’t so sweet for the underdogs, falling 25-5 in the second set, pulling the Bears away for good.

However, Pinkerton did come out strong in the third set, leading 10-6, before Coe-Brown stormed back on a 12-3 run, ending the set, 25-17.

For the Astros, it’s the end of an era for two of the best to do it in recent memory, in Kaden Layne, and Ben Koelb. Layne will continue his playing career at Rivier, while Koelb is headed to Northeastern.

Despite the exit in the semifinals against an impressive Coe-Brown team, Scott believes this run is just the beginning of something to come, with untapped potential for a bevy of underclassmen.

“Ben was a three-year starter, Kaden was a three-year starter, and we have five other seniors that we have to replace,” said Scott. “It’s hard to fill those holes, but with the underclassmen we have, you have to feel confident. We have the power next year, and getting this experience is huge.”

Follow Evan Applebaum on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, at EvanApplebaum2.

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Pitt Panthers Volleyball Lands Second 2027 Commitment

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers secured the services of another volleyball player, who will keep the program going as one of the best in the country. Kyla Williams, a Class of 2027 recruit, announced her commitment to Pitt volleyball on her Instagram. “It’s finally time!! I am EXTREMELY EXCITED to announce my verbal commitment to […]

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40 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers secured the services of another volleyball player, who will keep the program going as one of the best in the country.

Kyla Williams, a Class of 2027 recruit, announced her commitment to Pitt volleyball on her Instagram.

“It’s finally time!! I am EXTREMELY EXCITED to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic career at the University of PITTSBURGH,” Williams wrote. “I want to start by saying thank you to everyone that has gotten me to this point, a special thank you to my recruiting coordinator to my mom and to my family for helping me stay strong through everything! Secondly I want to also thank my coaching staff at Gilmour for making me better in the gym and getting me to this point, and can never forget my AVC family!! Lastly, I want to thank the coaching staff, coach Fisher, Petrone, Akeo, and Mike for being the best staff ever and believing in me! I can’t wait for the next 4 years!!! #h2p#gopanthers”

Williams plays for Gilmour Academy, a Catholic High School in Gates Mills, Ohio, 15 miles west of downtown Cleveland. It is also the same high school of former Pitt libero/defensive specialist and 2023 AVCA All-American Emmy Klika (2021-24).

She also plays for her travel team, Academy Volleyball Cleveland (AVC), the same travel team as Pitt Class of 2026 commitment Isabella Hoppe, who plays for nearby Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa.

Williams excelled with Gilmour Academy as a sophomore in 2024, with 183 kills, 2.1 kills per set, hitting .429, plus eight solo blocks and 59 total blocks.

She helped Gilmour Academy win the 2024 OHSAA Division III girls volleyball state championship match, defeating Cincinnati Ursuline Academy in four sets.

Williams will also play for Team USA at the NORCECA U19 Pan American Cup, which will take place June 24-28 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

She stands 6-foot-4 and plays both middle blocker and right side, as she dominates across the net.

Prep Dig ranks Williams as the top ranked recruit from the state of Ohio in the Class of 2027 and No. 12 in the country.

She is the second commitment in the Class of 2027 for Pitt volleyball, joining outside hitter Peyton Kubik from Blue West Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan., near Kansas City.

The Panthers currently have five commitments in their Class of 2026, making it seven future recruits coming over the next two seasons.

This includes outside hitter Ayanna Watson and libero/setter Trinity Thompson from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, outside hitter/middle blocker Jessica Smallwood from Elizabethtown High School in Elizabethtown, Ky., outside hitter Lola Sageer from Liverpool High School in Liverpool, N.Y. and Hoppe.

Redshirt Senior (One Year of Eligibility)
Setter Haiti Tautua’a
Outside Hitter Sophie Gregoire

Senior (One Year of Eligibility)
Middle blocker Ryla Jones
Middle blocker Dalia Vîrlan
Libero/defensive specialist Mallorie Meyer

Redshirt Junior (Two Years of Eligibility)
Right Side Hitter/settter Kiana Dinn

Junior (Two Years of Eligibility)
Libero/defensive specialist Izzy Masten
Middle blocker Abbey Emch
Outside hitter Marina Pezelj
Outside hitter Dagmar Mourits

Sophomore (Three Years of Eligibility)
Outside Hitter/Middle blocker Jessica Smallwood
Outside hitter Ayanna Watson
Outside hitter Lola Sageer
Setter Trinity Thompson
Setter Isabella Hoppe

Freshman (Four Years of Eligibility)
Middle Blocker/Right Side Kyla Williams
Outside Hitter Peyton Kubik

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

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Spurs Sports & Entertainment announce ownership in LOVB Austin Volleyball

League One Volleyball names Spurs Sports & Entertainment as owners of LOVB Austin Volleyball. SAN ANTONIO — League One Volleyball – the largest brand in youth volleyball with its professional volleyball league embarking on its second season – announced G9 Ventures, Bolt Ventures and Spurs Sports & Entertainment as the ownership group of its professional […]

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57 minutes ago

June 20, 2025

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League One Volleyball names Spurs Sports & Entertainment as owners of LOVB Austin Volleyball.

SAN ANTONIO — League One Volleyball – the largest brand in youth volleyball with its professional volleyball league embarking on its second season – announced G9 Ventures, Bolt Ventures and Spurs Sports & Entertainment as the ownership group of its professional team in Austin, LOVB Austin Volleyball.

“LOVB Austin Volleyball’s community-first and athlete-centered model is in complete alignment with our organizational values and standards at Spurs Sports & Entertainment,” said Peter J. Holt, Chairman and Managing Partner of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, in a release. “It’s so important for us to invest in our San Antonio-Austin region, and LOVB offers the perfect opportunity to do so while elevating women’s sports in a positive and unifying way. With the opportunity to host LOVB games throughout the entire Austin to Monterrey corridor, we can’t wait to see these elite athletes compete throughout our market.”

For more information about LOVB Pro and its current season, please visit: www.LOVB.com.

HARRISON AND BRITTANY BARNES UNVEIL REFURBISHED COURT AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE AUSTIN AREA

San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes and his wife, Brittany, as part of their Harrison and Brittany Barnes Community Fund, unveiled a newly renovated court at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area campus.

This is the second in a series of renovations across San Antonio, Austin and Mexico as part of the Barnes’ mission to improve access to and quality of recreational spaces in the Spurs’ core markets.

“It’s a gift and an honor to be able to give back to an organization that has positively impacted my life the way Boys & Girls Clubs has,” said Harrison Barnes in a release. “I’m a living example of the happiness and success that our young people can achieve when they’re supported and cared for in community spaces like Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, and BGCAA does an incredible job in providing this care to our Austin neighbors every day. It brings me and Brittany great joy to think of all the fun, friendship, and growth that BGCAA youth will experience on this court for years to come.”

In attendance was Spurs’ RC Buford and the Coyote as young athletes broke in the renovated court with some hoops.

The final project is scheduled to be completed in Mexico this month, according to the Spurs.

X: KENS 5, JeffGSpursKENS5

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Elaina Avila, Jupiter senior; Kate Guarneri, Jupiter senior

Kate Guarneri and Elaina Avila from Jupiter High School, Spring 2025 All-County Players of the Year for beach volleyball, photographed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Seniors Elaina Avila and Kate Guarneri have played volleyball together since their youth days. As seniors at Jupiter, they helped the Warriors win their school’s […]

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1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

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Kate Guarneri and Elaina Avila from Jupiter High School, Spring 2025 All-County Players of the Year for beach volleyball, photographed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Seniors Elaina Avila and Kate Guarneri have played volleyball together since their youth days.

As seniors at Jupiter, they helped the Warriors win their school’s 10th state title overall, and first girls state beach volleyball championship as they rallied to defeat Neptune Beach Fletcher 3-2 in the 3A state final to finish 19-1 and ranked No. 5 nationally.

Avila and Guarneri, and three additional seniors, were members of the team when coach Lilly Fink started the team. There were 45 girls that tried out for that squad, only one had ever played beach volleyball. The remaining players were all indoor players.

“They are solid girls and solid players,” said Fink, whose team dispatched six-time state finalist St. Thomas Aquinas in the semifinals 3-0. “They really rose to the occasion after losing the first set of their match in the finals.”

Elaina Avila from Jupiter High School, Spring 2025 All-County Player of the Year for beach volleyball, photographed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Avila and Guarneri lost the first set of their match 21-18 to Fletcher’s Karsyn Smith and Lisa Waite before rallying to take the next set 21-14 and then the match-clincher 15-9. The Jupiter duo has only lost three matches in the past two years and finished 16-0 this year.

“Coach Fink gave us some inspirational words after the first set, and I just decided that this was my last match ever, so just go out and have fun,” Avila said. “After we won, everyone ran out on the court to celebrate, and it was so surreal. We were crying, and I was crying happy tears, and I have never cried happy tears before.”

Guarneri said the fact that they won the state title is starting to sink in. The school honored the team with a Wall of Fame ceremony a few days after they returned home. They hang a photo of district, regional, and state champions in the school’s gymnasium.

“I was looking back at pictures and videos from the season and said, ‘wow, we really did that,’” Guarneri said. “Since we won all three, we get special recognition for it.

“On Friday, when we first got there, we were all nervous and then we had that (long) weather delay,” Guarneri said. “I think that really helped us because it allowed us to gather our thoughts. We said we know how to play, and we will play like we do at our home courts. We got in the right mindset, and we really wanted to win.”

Kate Guarneri from Jupiter High School, Spring 2025 All-County Player of the Year for beach volleyball, photographed on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Honorable mention: Archbishop McCarthy: Fabiana Castro, Brianna Masarrachio, Valerie Morales, Emma Pierce; Benjamin: Riley McCaughey, Sailor Plasman; Boca Raton: Lia Ray, Bella Troncale; Boca Raton Christian: Natalia Marciante, Hannah VanZwieten, Mackenzi VanZwieten; Calvary Christian: Vivi Belfort, Bradee Boyd; Cardinal Newman: Ava Castro, Adrianna Hinds; Cypress Bay: Julia Diaz, Anya Noya; Dr. Joaquin Gacia: Lyla Buser, Kadance Roach; Dwyer: Corrine Cabrera, Samantha Homberger, Drew Lotz; Jupiter: Sophie Katz, Islie Lounsbury, Macy McAmis, Bianca Starz; Jupiter Christian: Gabriella Brodner, Ella Murray; King’s Academy: Valeria Diaz, Gabby Fernandez, Miranda Knoll, Sophia Studley; Lake Worth Christian: Alex Krabs, Sophia Tomlinson; Park Vista: Ava Love, Aolani Paula; St. Thomas Aquinas: Emma Bear, Madeline Meltz, Leah Novatne, Alexa Raymond; Wellington: Brielle Dorish, Madeline Lee.

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