August 9, 2026

Written by Brad Peters

SAN BERNARDINO:  The girls volleyball team not only started their 2026 season but were the first contest of any sport to launch the 28th athletic school year of Martin Luther King High which opened in 1999.

Competing in the Blackhawk Classic Tournament, held on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College, head coach Michael Tongg was looking to not just get the season rolling but to set the table for  what he hopes will be the continuation of improvement he has guided the girls to since taking over the program three seasons ago.

Playing 5 matches in an 8 hour day was on the schedule for the Wolves and the team split the first four, losing to AAE, then beating Cajon, losing to Oak Hills and then winning over Hillcrest.

That sent the Wolves to the last game of the day against Citrus Valley which they won 2-0 (25-19, 25-10) to earn the “Bronze Championship” trophy for their work.

“This was a great start to our season,” Tongg said following the day of games.  “We saw what we need to practice, but we also saw the areas of the game we excel at.”

The girls played well together.  “They were a unit, they played as ‘one'” Tongg added.  “Their energy was contagious and fun to watch,” he said.

Madison Lenew was thrilled with the outcome, “coming home with the trophy was exciting,” she said.  Brooklyn Nielsen commented on the play by Jael Moore who had some great kills, and then added that “Brielle (Thompson) made some beautiful dump kills too.”  Sophia Manley and Caitlin Kiemele were effective on offense throughout the day.

It is just the first matches of the season, but with this start, bronze is the new gold.

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