Artists gain valuable experience

Shawn Patchell’s duties with the Laguna Beach High girls’

volleyball program concluded Thursday in the Woodbridge Summer League

at Woodbridge High in Irvine.

Patchell, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Brigham

Young University in Provo, Utah, said the Artists gained valuable

experience for the upcoming 2002 Fall regular season, which

officially begins on Sept. 12 at Newport Harbor High.

Laguna Beach lost in the league’s postseason, tournament

competition to top-seed Capistrano Valley.

“The girls had a nice summer and learned the important lesson of

how to compete,” said Patchell, who served as the Artists’ head coach

for the past six years. “We’re a young team this fall and this summer

league play gave us a lot of experience.”

Laguna Beach had several sophomores play the summer league

schedule.

“I’d say we had a productive summer, and that will translate to

some wins during the regular season -- when it counts,” he added.