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It’s the first round of the girls water polo playoffs. Tonight’s matchup features the eighth-seeded Neuqua Valley Wildcats facing the ninth-seeded Hinsdale South girls water polo. The Wildcats look to defend their pool and advance to round two with a home victory tonight, as the Hornets look for a road upset victory coming off a 13-4 loss against Hinsdale Central. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.

Neuqua Valley jumps out to a fast start

The Wildcats start hot as Samira Nadgar opens the playoffs for Neuqua Valley by scoring the first goal of the night off a long-range pass from Phoebe Puacz. Seven assists in the game for Puacz.

Neuqua looks to continue the pressure as Alexa Egan locates captain Phoebe Puacz for another Wildcat goal, sparking a scoring run for the blue and gold offense.

A part of the Wildcat scoring run, Isabella Marasco attempts the shot but is denied before she finds Nadgar giving the Neuqua a 5-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the first.

The Wildcats have all the momentum in their favor as Gabriella Snider takes on the Hornet defense alone before she puts it through. At the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats hold a commanding 8-0 lead.

Neuqua looks to press the advantage as Nadgar passes to Abigail Schiltz, who knocks down the first tally of the second quarter.

Nadgar looks to involve another teammate for another assist, as she locates an open Isabella Marasco, who quickly fires into the back of the net.

The Hornets look to score some points before the half and eventually come up with their first score of the game as Autumn Lambke connects with the back of the net however, the Hornets trail at the half 12-1.

The Wildcat offense shares the wealth

Coming out of the half, the Wildcats look to pick up where they left off. Ava Wallin scores the first points of the second half, as the lead builds to a dozen goals.

Her teammate Yarae Chung looks to feed off the scoring as she scores back-to-back goals as the Wildcats hold a commanding 15-1 lead with four minutes to go in the third.

Neuqua advances to the quarterfinals in blowout fashion

Nadgar continues to share the ball, as she finds Madelin Harp for the dagger as the Wildcats dominate the Hornets with a 20-3 victory in the first round of IHSA girls water polo playoffs. The Wildcats take on the top seed, Naperville North, for a quarterfinal round matchup.

What if I’m not good enough for college?

Everyone says junior year is the hardest — they aren’t wrong. From balancing multiple AP classes, dual credit courses and preparing for the SAT and PSAT, this year felt like a constant battle, and no one talks about how overwhelming and lonely it can feel when things don’t go as hoped. 

Junior year is considered to matter the most — it’s the year colleges care about. The one where your GPA, test scores and extracurriculars either set you up for success, or shatter your dreams. I walked into this school year confident, thinking that this was going to be my best academic year. I began chasing a version of myself I thought colleges wanted. However, when I tapped on the SAT’s “reveal your score” and saw a number that didn’t reflect my efforts, I broke – not all at once, but quietly and slowly — a pain that would linger within me.

I felt constant humiliation from my friends and family who teased me about my score. It hurt because I was the student who’d always earn A’s on assignments, studying day and night. Slowly, I began disappearing into my classes, not caring about anything because I felt like my dream of getting into a good college was crushed. After months of SAT prep, I couldn’t understand how it all fell apart. Now, I’m left wondering how I can improve as I’m running out of time.

With my own sport, track and field, I felt the pressure of having to succeed and make big achievements to impress colleges. I thought I would do well and that I’d work hard to earn a varsity spot. Despite my dreams, I ran my worst meet crushing any remaining faith I had for my future. Everything was falling apart. No matter how hard I tried to hold on, I constantly felt like I was losing grip of the future I wanted. 

But here’s one thing no one really says: it’s OK not to be OK.     

Our plans fall apart, and failure happens to all of us. The truth is, sometimes a person can do everything right, but still fall short. It’s normal. It’s not the end of the world. Failing a test and not being the “perfect student” doesn’t mean an individual failed at life. It’s how one responds to the obstacles that they’ll face that matters. 

Rather than figuring out my major, the college I’m going to or what my future looks like, I learned to get back up — even if I didn’t feel like it. Growth doesn’t always come easily; sometimes it shows up in big losses that can’t be redeemed, yet you choose to keep going anyway. 

It’s OK to lean on people, because without them, we might forget how to live. I distanced myself from the people I cared about. I missed out on my homecoming game, the dance, Thanksgiving parties, hangouts and late-night food drives with my friends — moments I’ll never get back all because I thought nobody would understand the pressure that consumed me. 

I realized the most meaningful parts of my junior year were the exact opposite of what I imagined at the start. It was the late-night FaceTime calls, the immaturity, laughter and the people who stuck around when I couldn’t be myself. 

Junior year was tough, but it showed me that being myself is enough. That meant more to me than any number could. 

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs women’s beach volleyball 1’s pair won first place in the 2025 3C2A Beach Volleyball State Pairs Championship tournament on May 10, 2025, at Long Beach City College.  

The 3C2A State Pairs Championship is the highest level of competition for community college beach volleyball. The event spans two days, with 32 pairs entering pool play and 16 advancing into Saturday’s grueling competition. Teams played three, best-of-three matches to determine seeding on Friday. The round of 16 commenced at 10 a.m. the following day. 

The SMC men’s and women’s teams rallied early to support defender Annah Legaspi and blocker Nicole Lankton in their quest for gold. They secured the No. 1 seed in their pool the day before, going undefeated, 3-0. The Corsairs’ faced the Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Mounties’ Candace Ceballos and Madeline Castillo in the Round of 16.  

“I said to them (Lankton and Legaspi), they’re going to push back, it’s a really good team. Did you not see them eliminate your buddies,” said Christian Cammayo, head coach for SMC’s women’s volleyball team, to a Mt. SAC coach after the game. “I’m like, ‘Don’t get comfortable.’”

The match commenced with a quick back-and-forth, scoring 5-5, before SMC took the lead. A series of point runs and kills from both Lankton and Legaspi kept the competition at bay, with SMC dominating the first set 21-14. 

Mt. SAC entered the second set hot, immediately going on a 4-point run, before SMC could respond. The Mounties’ attack was relentless, scoring point after point with no response from SMC. Mt. SAC took an early lead in the set, 7-3, and never let up.

Lankton served an ace, cutting the deficit to three, 10-13, but that would be the last time the set was competitive. Cebellos and Castillo’s onslaught earned them a commanding lead, 17-10, a hurdle SMC couldn’t overcome. The Mounties controlled the second set, winning 21-14. 

Legaspi started the third set with a 4-point run, stealing the momentum. Mt. SAC tried to overcome the early hurdle, but SMC had found its groove. The once silent crowd was rejuvenated, and the louder they got the more in tune Legaspi and Lankton became. 

SMC fans, mostly composed of teammates and parents, stood alongside the fence watching the game. Cameron Taylor, an SMC men’s volleyball star, led the chants. Taylor, at times hanging over the fence, would scream words of encouragement to the SMC players. 

“They both tell us, all the time, that us cheering and being our typical loud SMC self is what helps them play better. If we continue to be that for them, it’s going to help them in those tough moments,” Taylor said. 

The crowd became ecstatic, jumping and cheering,  as SMC ran away with the game. Lankton served the game-winning point, and after a quick back-and-forth, the Corsairs beat the Mounties, 15-7, advancing them to the quarter finals versus the Orange Coast College (OCC) Pirates.

The afternoon games were played in less-than-favorable weather conditions. The sun was scorching hot, and the sand radiated heat. Often, fans would run to a mist machine during time-outs.

Legaspi started the game with a 9-point run, setting the tone. The Corsairs were in sync, feeding off the crowd and each other. Legaspi snatched digs, dove for balls and set up spikes, while Lankton became an impenetrable wall at the net.  

The 9-point run became a 14-7 lead. Lankton’s height was an overbearing obstacle for the unresponsive OCC players. SMC delivered a swift victory in the first set, winning 21-12. 

The Corsairs continued their attack, with Legaspi going on a 4-point run to start the second set. Conditions worsened, and players visually struggled with the heat. A timeout was called with SMC leading 14-7, and players from both teams rushed off the court. Legaspi and Lankton ran to a shower head and sprayed themselves, while OCC’s Kayla Ihrig jumped into a tub of shallow water. 

After the timeout, SMC’s momentum came to a halt. The Pirates began showing life coming out of the timeout, cutting the deficit to three,17-14, forcing Legaspi to signal for a timeout. 

What began as a runaway affair quickly turned into a close nail-biter. OCC’s newfound momentum brings them within a point to tie, 18-17. Pirates’ Jordan Packer serves the potential game-tying serve, but OCC loses the exchange, 19-17. SMC won the next two points, sinking the Pirates and advancing to the semi-finals after a decisive 21-17 victory. 

SMC faced the San Diego Mesa College Olympians in the semi-finals. The Olympians won the 2024 3C2A State Pairs Championship, with Myah Gomez returning, looking to win back-to-back championships.

Volleyball players from both colleges stood against the fence to show their support. Players battled on the court, and fans attempted to outcheer the opposing crowd. The majority of Mesa’s volleyball team arrived at the State Pairs Championship to support their teammates after winning the 2025 3C2A Women’s Beach Volleyball State Championship the prior day.

Mesa builds an early lead at the start of the third game, 5-2. Lankton’s height advantage was neutralized by Gomez, who found cracks in the foundation of the impenetrable wall. 

Mesa’s fan section grew louder as Gomez and her partner, Jaiden Mojica, expanded their lead. Olympian fans cheered and proudly waved their team flag after every scored point. SMC’s fan section was suddenly quiet again, for the first time since the Mt. SAC game. 

Lankton scored before delivering a thundering ace to make the game 10-7. The game was highly contested, with Mesa holding a slight lead for most of the set. SMC fought point for point with Lankton tying the score at 16 apiece.

Lankton served an ace to give SMC the lead, 18-17, but Gomez immediately responded, tying the game. Gomez then served the ball, and after a quick exchange, she committed an attack error that electrified the SMC crowd. The Corsairs close the set, winning 21-18.

The second set started highly contested, with the Corsair riding the momentum. The Olympians tied the game at 6 apiece after a failed blocking attempt by Lankton. Mojica serves and after the exchange, takes the lead, 7-6.

Mesa held onto their lead, with the Corsairs not far behind. SMC tied the game at 11 apiece, then took the lead. The Olympians stayed steadfast, always at the heels of the Corsairs. 

The last tie of the game was at 13 apiece. Lankton put the Corsairs in front, and that would be the last lead change of the game. SMC’s women’s volleyball team then moved courtside to support their teammates through the last points of the game.

Lankton blocked the ball to extend the lead by three, silencing the Mesa fans. The Olympians lose the next point and call a timeout, trailing 17-13. The Corsairs, on a 4-point run, had all the momentum. 

Coming out of the timeout, Lankton scored a kill. Legaspi continued the point run by serving an ace, which extended the lead to seven. Gomez then pokes the ball for a point to end the point run, refusing to go down without a fight. 

Gomez continued to fight, but it was in vain. The Corsairs defeated the Olympians, 21-15, bumping Mesa  to bronze and advancing to the championship round. 

The Fresno City College (FCC) Rams beat the Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles in a three-set game to advance to the championship. FCC’s volleyball team stood courtside for the majority of the match, bringing an unparalleled intensity that SMC fans hadn’t matched. 

Phoebe Constable and Lusa Andrews entered the competition as the No.1 seed in Northern California, representing FCC. SMC was the top seed in the Southern California division. 

The Rams supporters could be heard cheering from across the courtyard during their third set. The SMC fans sat in the stands, staring at them. Lankton then walks over to her teammates and says, “I need you all to go off this round.” 

Team support has been crucial to Legaspi and Lankton’s success. The pair frequently relied on their teammates to help ease them during pivotal moments. 

“It’s so important. I think us being here is one of the main reasons they’ve gotten so far. Coaches have said it, they’ve said it. Without fan support, you don’t get much energy, and energy can make or break a game,” said Makena Gamby, a defender on SMC’s beach volleyball team. “So, I think having a lot of fans really helps them push forward and push through.”

The afternoon game took place underneath the beaming sun. The shade disappeared, and water was running low. SMC fans stood against the fence, and FCC’s women’s volleyball team went courtside onto the hot-to-touch sand. The top two pairs in California stood laser-focused, never breaking eye contact, as they awaited the referee’s whistle. 

Fresno starts strong. They win the first point of the set, and then pull away with an early lead, 6-1. FCC’s courtside support was strong; teammates of the pair danced and cheered on the sidelines.

FCC couldn’t maintain the lead for long. The Corsairs scored a point and then went on a 4-point run to tie the game at 6 apiece. The next few points were highly contested, with SMC pulling ahead. 

Legaspi puts the Corsairs in front, followed by back-to-back spikes by Lankton to extend the lead, 12-7.

Constable scores a point to end the Corsairs’ 5-point run, 13-8. SMC continued expanding their lead, seemingly running away with the set, but the Rams never lost focus. 

Andrews serves the ball and the Rams heat up as Constable spikes the ball to cut the deficit to three, energizing the crowd. The Rams then tied the game, 15-15 after an attack error from Lankton.

Legaspi ends the 5-point run with a rollshot, putting them ahead 16-15. The Corsairs then extended their lead after going on a four-point run. Andrews then spikes the ball to save the set before it’s too late, trailing, 20-16. 

Constable steps behind the serving line and delivers two quick points to put the Rams within striking distance of the Corsairs. Constable, under pressure, serves the ball into the net handing SMC the first set, 21-18. 

The second set, like the first, quickly became anyone’s game. The Corsairs took an early 5-2 lead, before the Rams fought back to tie it at 7 apiece. SMC would pull ahead and FCC would come back and tie the game.

Andrews blocks the ball to tie the game at 8, followed by a serving error by Constable, to put SMC ahead, 9-8. Constable, still determined, spikes the ball to tie it up at 9 apiece. Neither team could pull away, and both refused to let up. 

Legaspi then goes on a 5-point run, pulling ahead, 15-10, which ended after she committed an attack error. SMC, on the verge of being crowned champions, begins to apply more pressure.

The SMC fans began to match the FCC crowd’s earlier intensity once they had a commanding lead. The Rams begin to falter, as the Corsairs’ lead increases. Lankton then spikes the ball, bringing the crowd’s energy to a new level as the Corsairs jump 19-13. 

Legaspi follows Lankton’s spike with a point of her own. All eyes turn to Lankton as she steps to the baseline to deliver the next serve. She looks up and sends the ball over. 

The Rams send the ball back, and a rapid exchange occurs. Lankton then spikes the ball for the game-winning kill, 21-13. For a moment, everything goes quiet, then the SMC crowd erupts and their courtside supporters begin jumping. 

“Yesterday, they honestly did not play well, at all, and they won. Today, they played closer to their potential. I don’t think it was their best, but that’s kind of how good they are. If they play close to their potential, if they play within the range, they’re pretty unstoppable,” Cammayo said.

There were struggles early in Lankton and Legaspi’s careers. Coach Cammayo gave Lankton an ultimatum: she could either listen or she can leave the team. 

“It was more of me not giving as much effort as I needed to. After that conversation, I wanted to play volleyball. I told myself, ‘This is not how my volleyball career is ending.’ So, I just locked in and aimed to be the best volleyball player I could be,” Lankton said.

Legaspi almost quit volleyball altogether during her recruitment phase, but stuck with it. At their best, they are the tried-and-tested No. 1 duo in California. 

“I’m so happy. I almost quit volleyball, and I’m glad I didn’t. I mean, I’ve come so far. I know I’m driving with a bad mentality, for myself, so the fact that I was able to push, we were able to push, we grew, I’m just so proud of both of us,” Legaspi said. “She almost got kicked out (the team). She tried her hardest, she gave me her effort, I gave her mine. I’m just — words can’t even describe it.”

Legaspi will play indoor volleyball next season for the Corsairs, and Lankton is transferring, heading into her junior year. Together, they overcame personal issues, dethroned a defending champion, and defeated the No.1 seed in Northern California, all to be crowned the 2025 3C2A Women’s Beach Volleyball State Pairs champions.