The entire crowd becomes quiet as libero Ashley Sakonju ’28 steps to the endline to serve for match point. Co-captain and middle blocker Lauryn Lewis ’26 grits her teeth in desperation as she watches Sakonju’s serve hit the ground in slow motion. Suddenly, she hears screams echo through the gym and feels the weight of the entire team as they fall into a hug. Emotions overflow as Lewis looks into the packed crowd, remembering the physical and mental strains she and her teammates endured to make their dream of becoming champions into a reality.
Lewis said her anticipation during the last minutes of the game made her reflect on her journey as a volleyball player.
“Those final minutes [of the game] felt like forever and one second at the same time,” Lewis said. “However, once we won, I felt like it had all happened in no time. The last few points were so quick that I cannot even remember them that clearly, but I do remember being extremely grateful. I was once a little girl hoping to be one of the players on the Harvard-Westlake volleyball team, and at that moment, I couldn’t believe it was about to end for me. What was once a dream was now an experienced privilege.”
The girls volleyball team won the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) State Division I Championship against Woodcreek High School at Santiago Canyon College on Nov. 21 for the first time since 2021. The Wolverines defeated the Timberwolves 3-0 with the score being 25-22 for the first set, 25-14 for the second set and 25-17 for the final set.
Right-side hitter Sophia Cotter ’27 said she attempted to maintain focus despite her emotions knowing this would be her last game playing with the seniors.
“I was trying to stay focused on finishing the game strong and staying present,” Cotter said. “Although I had a good feeling about the outcome of the game, you never know when the momentum can shift, and the other team can come back. It was definitely a mix of emotions, though. It was sad knowing it was the last time playing with the seniors, but also so exciting realizing our hard work had paid off and we were about to become state champions. I love this team so much and am so proud of everyone.”
Co-captain and middle blocker Maya Stillwell ’26 said the team thoroughly prepared for the championships and entered the final game focusing on applying what they had practiced.
“Our team prepared for the tournament by watching film, working on our systems and practicing hard,” Stillwell said. “In the end, we went into the final match knowing that we deserved to be here but also that we were so fortunate to be in this situation and that we must cherish every moment. As the game went on and we seemed to be mostly in control, all of our strategy went into making sure we fought til the end and left everything on the court until the final ball dropped.”
This was the first year the team was under the guidance of Girls Volleyball Program Head Morgan Wijay. Before coming to the school, she had led Alemany High School’s girls volleyball to win consecutive CIF-SS Championships and had been awarded CIF Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
Wijay said winning the championship trophy represented the team’s potential, trust and confidence.
“Winning a state championship in my first year meant everything, but not because of the trophy,” Wijay said. “It was because of these girls. They were hungry. They wanted someone to truly see their talent and value it. I had played against Harvard-Westlake for years, so I already knew how gifted they were from across the net. I was excited to step into this program because I saw their potential clearly, and I wanted to help bring that out. To watch them trust me, trust each other and step fully into their confidence is what made the championship so special.”
Wijay said she focused on creating a close team environment and building confidence, which led to success.
“When I joined the program, my goals were centered around building a culture grounded in work ethic, connection, accountability and trust,” Wijay said. “I wanted the girls to feel seen, valued and empowered to be their best. From the very beginning, we were putting pieces together, moving lineups around and making adjustments. It wasn’t about being perfect. We were constantly problem-solving because the goal was always bigger than the problem. The season didn’t just match what I envisioned, the way the girls bought into the process and grew together [exceeded my expectations].”
Defensive specialist Mattea Pisani ’27 said the coach change was difficult to adjust to but necessary for improvement.
“[Wijay] has definitely turned this program around, and although the adjustment was in no way easy, it has absolutely changed our program for the better,” Pisani said. “She has curated such a unique environment that is loving while also pushing you beyond your limits. She worked hard to establish a sisterhood within our team early on in the season, which was another key to our success.”
Lewis said Wijay’s emphasis on a tough mentality ultimately helped them deepen self-confidence and win.
“[Wijay] also pushed a couple of the seniors, including me, to instill an aggressive attitude across the team,” Lewis said. “In doing so, we became stronger players, or ‘dogs’ as the coaches call it. Of all four years I have dedicated to this program, this was the one where I tuned in to my most zealous mindset. We all learned that tough love was a crucial part of competing and winning. All in all, [Wijay] taught us that we did not need to be anyone other than ourselves to be successful. We just needed to believe that we were good enough and that alone set this season apart from previous years.”
Sakonju said facing strong opponents helped the team learn from setbacks and develop resilience that helped during their playoffs.
“As a team, we have learned just how capable we are of competing with some of the best teams in the nation,” Sakonju said. “Every game we lost, we lost against ourselves and our own mistakes, but we were able to learn and grow from those losses. Being able to play tough opponents and be the underdogs in tough matches leading into playoffs taught us how to fight and helped us to two five-set wins in playoffs.”
Pisani said she struggled doing well in stressful situations, but preparation during after-school practices helped her overcome her fear.
“My biggest challenge personally was learning to perform in high-pressure environments,” Pisani said. “This season, we faced many big moments as a team. Our coaches always remind us that pressure is a privilege and something that helped me is understanding that it’s okay to be nervous. It means that you care. Rather than hyper-fixating on big moments, I’ve learned to shift my focus towards winning and finding ways to serve my team no matter what. This season has taught me so many lessons that I am excited to bring with me into next season.”
Defensive specialist Kailani Yap ’26 said the team’s success will motivate underclassmen and is grateful for the relationships she has fostered over the years.
“The team winning the championship will inspire a lot of the younger members to contribute more to the volleyball program,” Yap said. “Looking back, my time on the team has shaped me into the person, athlete and leader I am today. I will truly miss my time in this program and know I can always call the team my family.”
