October 14, 2026

Written by Brad Peters

RIVERSIDE:  Roosevelt came to Riverside on Tuesday for their second match of the season against the Wolves. They returned home with a 3-1 victory which left King in 4the place of the Big VIII League.  Roosevelt is a very talented team and while the loss was disappointing, the coaching staff pleased with how his team played.

“Our last league match was filled with all sorts of emotions,” said King head coach Michael Tongg.  “This year was a growing year in all aspects of team building. We excelled as individuals and blended well together as a team. This year the girls had a purpose and were motivated to work hard and fight for each other.”

The third set was the one that King won with what Tongg described as “amazing plays.”  He continued, “The girls never let the ball drop without dropping to the floor first. We had a rally that went back and forth for a good minute or more and ended with a kill by Madison Lenew … it was beautiful!”

One of the seniors, Brooklyn Nielsen who has been with the program for all of her four years reminisced on the changes the program has seen in her tenure.  She said, “This volleyball season was probably the best season this school has had in a long time, but it wasn’t just because we had the skill and talent; the teams prior to us definitely had all of that, but because we shared a true connection with each other. Every practice, every game, and every single point we poured our entire heart and soul into it because we wanted to leave a different legacy behind. This team was determined to fight for everything, to put in the time and effort so we could be better for each other, and go all in with both feet in the door together. I’m extremely thankful for the coaches who were dedicated to making us better and for these girls I got to play my last season with. I’m very proud of everything we have accomplished and hope future teams continue what we started.”

“We were pleased with how the girls played tonight,” Tongg said.  The Wolves struggled with the game plan early on but by the end were in synce and were able to get a glimpse of their potential when matched against a strong opponent.

“I am proud of the girls for what they have accomplished so far,” he added, “and we hope that we get a chance to continue on in our journey with an at-large CIF playoff spot.”   With a 19-9 record overall (3-7 in league)  they have an argument.

Regardless of the decision, they also have a year marked by improvement, and no one can take that away.