Top-seeded volleyball squad opens tonight

Now that the Orange Coast League title is out of the way, five matches are all that separate the top-seeded Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball team from a CIF Southern Section Division II championship.

The top-seeded Breakers (20-5) begin that quest tonight at 7 p.m., with a home first-round match against Brea Olinda (13-8-2).

Laguna Beach Coach Lance Stewart said his team has welcomed back senior outside hitter Cooper Gwaltney (back) in the past week and had a good practice Wednesday.

“I think we’re basically healthy,” Stewart said. “We’re ready to go.”

Brea Olinda is an at-large team from the Century League, and Stewart said he doesn’t know much about the Wildcats “other than they’ll have six guys on the other side of the net.”

“We’ve got good scouting, but that won’t take place unless we get to the quarterfinals or semifinals,” Stewart said.

A second-round match would be Tuesday, against either Rio Mesa or Righetti. The Breakers would travel to Righetti, while the home team for a match against Rio Mesa would be decided via coin flip.

The quarterfinals are May 22, the semifinals May 27 and the Division II championship match is Saturday, May 30 at Cypress College.

Marmonte League co-champion Westlake (17-3) is the second-seeded team in Division II, and Pacific League champion Claremont (15-2) is third.

“” Matt Szabo