High School Roundup: Breakers claim Dos Pueblos title
In a busy day of boys’ volleyball action Saturday in Goleta, Laguna Beach swept its way through its first six matches, then scored a comeback victory in the final of the Dos Pueblos Tournament, to claim a championship.
In the tournament final, Laguna overcame a 25-14 loss in the first set to Notre Dame Sherman Oaks but rallied to win the next two sets 25-17, 17-12, to take the title.
In the final, senior outside hitter Dane Olson (eight digs) and junior middle blocker Tyler Alter both had seven kills and junior setter Isaac Wulff had 23 assists and 2.5 blocks for the Breakers (4-3) who are ranked second in CIF Southern Section Division 2.
Laguna marched through pool play action Saturday. The Breakers opened the tournament with a 25-18, 25-14 win over Templeton, then downed St. Margaret’s (No. 2 Division 4, 25-11, 25-22), Santa Barbara San Marcos (29-27, 25-20), and Agoura (25-16, 25-16). In the quarterfinals, they defeated San Marcos a second time, winning, 25-19, 25-13.
In a semifinal matchup pitting two top-10 Division 2 teams, Laguna swept No. 8 Simi Valley Royal, 25-16, 25-18, to reach the final.
Olson, who had 51 kills and 33 digs, overall, was named tournament MVP. Alter finished with 41 kills, Wulff had 152 assists and six blocks, sophomore defensive specialist Cole Paxson had 51 digs.
Laguna hosted Corona del Mar Tuesday in nonleague play and lost to the Sea Kings, 25-13, 25-21, 25-20, at Dugger Gym. Alter and senior opposite Jack Burgi had nine and seven kills, respectively, sophomore Pete Obradovich nine digs, and Wulff 28 assists.
In a previous nonleague match March 12 at Dugger Gym, Santa Margarita edged Laguna, 21-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 15-9. Alter had 18 kills, Olson 15 kills and 10 digs, Obradovich 15 kills and eight digs, Burgi 12 kills and six digs, and Wulff 61 assists.
The Breakers are idle until March 26 when the defending Orange Coast League champions start their league schedule with a 5:15 p.m. match at Costa Mesa.
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Boys’ Tennis
In the first CIF-SS boys’ tennis rankings of the 2015 season, the Breakers are atop the Division 4 poll.
Laguna hosted Huntington Beach Tuesday in nonleague play and was defeated by the Oilers, 11-7. In singles action, Laguna’s Stuart Webb won two sets (0-6, 6-2, 6-0) at No. 2, and No. 1 Charles Keller and No. 3 Adrien Azera both won a set. In doubles, the Breakers’ No. 2 team of Ryan Gee/Hayden Seitz won twice (3-6, 6-3, 6-1) and No. 1 team Zack Washer/Sterling Dudley-Bowen won one set.
“Unfortunately, our doubles didn’t play up to the level in which they are capable, yet these are good tests before CIF, and help us pinpoint what we need to focus on,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said.
In another nonleague match played March 12, Laguna was a 14-4 winner over visiting Trabuco Hills. Sweeping in singles play was No. 1 Tristan Krogius (6-3, 6-1, 6-0) and No. 3 Ethan Gee (7-5, 6-0, 6-0) while Washer, at No. 2, won two sets (6-4, 6-2) before defaulting the third set.
Getting a sweep in doubles was No. 1 Ryan Gee/Seitz (6-1, 6-0, 7-5). The No. 3 team of Webb/Jake Robbins won twice (4-6, 6-3, 6-0), and the No. 2 team of Dudley-Bowen/Nick Besso won once (0-6, 4-6, 6-2).
Laguna played a nonleague game at Mission Viejo Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.
Next week, the top-ranked Breakers start Orange Coast League play. The defending league champs host Saddleback Tuesday and play Thursday at Estancia, both matches beginning at 3:15 p.m.
“For CIF to consider us the top team is an honor, yet we’ll have to continue to improve in order to be there at the end of the season,” Davis said.
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Boys’ Golf
The Breakers were in Laguna Niguel Tuesday for a nonleague match with Aliso Niguel, and edged the Wolverines, 205-207, at El Niguel Country Club (par 36). The Breakers’ John Grayden was the low medalist at 36.
Grayden was one of six low medalists (36 score) March 12 at El Niguel when the Breakers dropped a 180-199 nonleague match to Dana Hills.
Laguna (3-2) took on Aliso Niguel Thursday in nonleague play. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The Breakers next week begin their Orange Coast League season when they host Calvary Chapel at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Aliso Viejo Country Club. They play their second league match at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when they take on Estancia at Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa.
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Baseball
The Breakers completed play March 13 at the Newport Elks Tournament and in their final game, lost, 5-1, at Paramount.
Laguna (1-4) starts its Orange Coast League season at 3:15 p.m. Friday at Costa Mesa. The Breakers host Saddleback in a 3:15 p.m. league contest Tuesday.
Defending champion Laguna has gone undefeated (30-0) the last two years in league play.
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Softball
The Breakers dropped their final two games to a pair of Orange Coast League foes at the Costa Mesa Tournament last week.
In a March 13 game, Laguna fell to Estancia, 17-3. In their tourney finale last Saturday, the Breakers dropped a 19-6 game to Saddleback.
Laguna returns to action March 30 for a 4 p.m. home nonleague game with Bolsa Grande.
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Swimming
The Breakers competed last Saturday at the Los Alamitos Coed Relays. Below are results for Laguna relay teams who played in the top three of each event:
12 x 50 Varsity Coed Freestyle Relay (second place): Ben Greenwood (24.00); Gabi Beran (29.31); Jack Dodson (24.19); Haley Evans (28.19); Max Morgan (22.60); Abby Cohn (28.l6); Billy Renner (23.98); Harper Dix (25.83); Cameron Karkoska (21.92); Ally Jochim (28.44); Erik Juliusson (21.83); Kasey Karkoska (24.67).
8 x 100 Varsity Coed Free Relay (third): Cameron Karkoska (49.64); Haley Evans (1:03.43); Ben Greenwood (51.42); Kirra Nash (1:01.16); Max Morgan (50.18); Harper Dix (57.66); Erik Juliusson (47.93); Kasey Karkoska (55.09).
8 x 50 Varsity Coed Medley Relay (second): Erik Juliusson (backstroke, 24.94); Harper Dix (backstroke, 28.75); Olivia Vera (breaststroke, 34.07); Cameron Karkoska (breaststroke, 28.64); Jack Dodson (butterfly, 28.14); Kasey Karkoska (butterfly, 27.31); Haley Evans (freestyle, 27.76); Max Morgan (freestyle, 21.95).
“This is always a fun, early-season meet for our team,” Laguna Coach Beth Weber said. “We are off to a strong start this year.”
The Breakers, defending OCL champion for both boys and girls, begins its title defense next Wednesday when they start league meet action hosting Saddleback at 3:15 p.m.
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Boys’ Volleyball: Laguna Beach (No. 2, Division 2).
Boys’ Tennis: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 4).
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca