Briefs: Exciting final at Women’s Laguna Open

The 40th annual Women’s Laguna Open beach volleyball tournament at Main Beach in Laguna Beach May 7 provided competitors several challenges due to strong winds and some rain.

Twenty-five pro women’s teams vied for $1,600 in prizes. The team of Carly Wopat (San Jose) and Karissa Cook (Santa Barbara) outlasted Andrea Peterson (Hermosa Beach) and Michelle Iafigliola (Manhattan Beach) in an exciting final.

Women’s Laguna Open standings: 1. Carly Wopat/Karissa Cook; 2. Andrea Peterson/Michelle Iafigliola; 3T. Christie Jenkins/Dalida Vernier, Hannah Clancy/Katie Meyers; 5T. Brooke Langston/Paige Jensen, Kylin Loker/Morgan Martin, Aurora Davis/Bree Scarbrough, Jacqueline Wood/Bre Moreland.

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Men’s Laguna Open next week

The 61st annual Men’s Laguna Open beach volleyball tournament will run June 4-5 at Main Beach in Laguna Beach.

The two-day, double-elimination tournament is a match-play format with a prize purse now at $5,000. The top 28 teams overall (by rating), and top four Laguna Beach teams (by rating), are guaranteed a spot in the main draw on June 4.

Tournament sponsorships are available and volunteers are being sought to help with both the women’s and men’s tournaments.

For all tournament information, email tournament director Kirk Morgan and kirkmorgan@cox.net.

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Team USA wins twice

The USA Water Polo Women’s National Team, which includes sisters Makenzie and Aria Fischer of Laguna Beach, won two exhibition matches against Australia earlier this week.

In the opening game between the teams Sunday before a capacity crowd at USC, Makenzie Fischer tied for game-high scoring honors with three goals and Aria Fischer scored once in Team USA’s 14-11 victory.

Tuesday at Fresno State, Makenzie Fischer scored twice and Team USA beat the Aussies, 11-5.

The women’s teams met again Thursday but the score wasn’t available at press time. Also Thursday, the 13-player roster for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Team that will compete this summer in Brazil was to be announced.

The USA Water Polo Men’s National Team split its two-game weekend series with Australia.

In the opening game between teams, Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach) scored the last of his two goals on a penalty shot in a shootout to give Team USA a 12-11 victory May 20 before a capacity crowd at Pomona Pitzer College. Sunday at USC, Luca Cupido (Newport Beach) scored twice in an 8-6 loss.

— From staff reports