Janell Walley (left), and Alexis Cardoza celebrate after winning the title on Sunday.

Yucaipa High’s girls volleyball team is seeking a Citrus Belt League title this season. But senior Janell Walley is already coming off her own big victory.
Walley and Chino Hills junior Alexis Cardoza teamed up to win an A-rated adult level beach volleyball tournament in Huntington Beach on Sunday.
Walley and Cardoza, who are club teammates with Rancho Valley, went 2-1 in pool play, then won each of their bracket matches to bring home the title. They earned a AA rating, meaning Walley and Carodoza won’t be able to compete in any A-level tournaments anymore, only AA and AAA. AAA tournaments are pro-level.
Walley, who has committed to Boise State, said playing beach volleyball helps her with the high school team.
“I think it helps your reading game on the court, predicting where it goes,” she said.
Walley said it’s difficult because she doesn’t get to practice much on the beach this time of year, unlike other competitors, who live closer to the beach, and many of the opponents are in their 20s and have an experience advantage.
“But I feel like we younguns have more stamina,” she said.
It helped, she said, for a tournament that began at 9 a.m. and didn’t end until 5:30 p.m.
I just found out via email what the CIF-SS rules are about this. The fact that it is 2-on-2 beach volleyball is allowable during the season, per CIF-SS rules. Spokesman Thom Simmons said if it was 3-on-3 (half of a regular team) it would be a violation of team rules.

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