LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Poly girls beach volleyball team dug deep and rallied past Canyon of Anaheim in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship game at Long Beach City College Saturday.

The Jackrabbits (13-6) won their last four playoff games in the second round, quarterfinal, semifinal and final, by a 3-2 margin. The victory is the program’s first CIF beach volleyball title.

“I just knew that it was going to be a battle and that’s something that we’ve put an emphasis on the past few CIF playoff games,” Long Beach Poly coach Litara Keil said. “It came down to the very last two teams every single time and the girls have pulled through and came out on top. I’m really glad that they did it one last time.”

With the deciding match tied at 15 in the third set, Poly senior Simone Millsap, who plays on the Jackrabbits’ No. 4 team, delivered two well placed served for two crucial points, which clinched the program’s first CIF beach volleyball title with a 3-2 victory.

“Winning CIF after having a pretty tough league season is really awesome,” said Millsap, who played alongside sophomore Alyssa Luna. “I’m just excited to watch the rest of my team grow these next few years as they’re in high school and I’m off to college.”

The Jackrabbits trailed 2-1 with Poly’s No. 3 team with junior Lauren Foster and sophomore Taimane Poe picking up the team’s only victory in the first three matches.

However, Poly’s No. 1 team, which was led by sophomore Aleeya Salima and freshman Londyn Foster stepped up in the finals.

“Honestly, we just had grit and we’re representing the name on our jerseys,” Salima said. “What we do in the dark comes to light.”

Salima’s kill put the Jackrabbits up 9-5 in the third set. Poly went on to win the third 15-11, which tied the dual at 2.

“I told my partner, it doesn’t matter win or lose, just play with our heart and that’s what we did,” Salima continued.

The Poly girls indoor volleyball team also won the CIF-SS Division 3 championship against Bishop Diego in November.

“I’m an alumni myself and I’ve been in their shoes as well,” Keil explained. It’s a full circle to be able to come back and win another one with the girls. It’s been exciting. It’s been a road but it’s been exciting.”

“Trying to grow the program and the team, it took a lot but it paid off with the girls hard work and commitment,” Keil continued.

Meanwhile, Canyon, which was led by junior Ellie Nguyen and senior Jordyn Roberts, finished with a 19-8 overall team record. The Comanches earned the program’s first CIF-SS beach volleyball runner-up plaque.

“It means everything considering that it’s our first year of this program,” Canyon coach Jenna Banz said. “I had girls that came out and they had never been on the beach before. So the fact that they could push it to the end, they couldn’t have done any better than that.”

“I think it’s all about experience and the fact that these girls could be here with this crowd and the pressure,” Banz continued. “I think we can only go up from here.”

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