Briefly In Sports

Van Alphen wins tennis event

Six months ago, Sydney Van Alphen finished runner-up at the Laguna Niguel Girls’ 14s Open Tennis Tournament.

Sunday, she came away with the title.

Van Alphen, 11, won the Laguna Niguel Junior Open Tennis Thanksgiving Tournament girls’ 14s singles title Sunday at Laguna Niguel Racquet Club. But that wasn’t all the Thurston Middle School sixth-grader came away with: she teamed with Emily Maxfield of Murrieta to capture the girls’ 14s doubles crown, as well.

In the 14s singles final, Van Alphen defeated 14-year-old Bettina Olah of San Marcos, 7-5, 6-3.

In the 14s doubles final, Van Alphen and Maxfield rallied to defeat Alyssa Rudin (Irvine) and Ally McKenzie (Glendale), 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.

To reach the singles final, Van Alphen came from behind to defeat Summer Dvoral (Utah), 1-6, 6-2, 10-7, in a quarterfinal match, then swept Ally McKenzie (Glendale) in the semifinal round, 6-2, 6-3.

The tournament started Thanksgiving Day at the Racquet Club of Irvine.

Van Alphen received a full sponsorship from Kai Nitsche, vice president and general manager of Dunlop Racquet Sports North America, and signed a full sponsorship agreement with Dunlop Sports on Monday, her father Marc Van Alphen said.

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Pitz wins two events, Breakers fall to Sailors

Taylor Pitz won both the girls’ longboard and girls’ shortboard events Nov. 24 when the Laguna Beach surf team took on Newport Harbor at Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point.

The Sailors won, 88-77, in a contest held in cool, crisp off-shore peak conditions in the three-foot range.

Pitz emerged victorious in the girls’ longboard where teammates Leah Pakpour and Brenda Joseph finished second and fourth, respectively. The trio also finished in the same order in the girls’ shortboard. Pakpour rode teammate Kris Williams’ longboard in the girls’ longboard competition.

Williams picked up a second-place finish in the boys’ longboard just ahead of Breakers Travis Sampson (third) and Cody Alter (fifth). Williams also did well in boys’ shortboard where he finished third. Laguna freshman Cameron DePhyffer followed up his first contest performance from a week ago, with another second-place spot in his boys’ shortboard heat.

Teague Hamilton was fourth in his boys’ shortboard heat and Rex Strombotne lost a tie-breaker and finished fourth in his heat.

In boys’ bodyboard, Blair Conklin placed third, Adam Redding-Kaufman was fourth and Jack Howey, in his first start, placed sixth.

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Volleyball club has openings

Main Beach Laguna Volleyball Club has openings for girls age 14, born on or after Sept. 1, 1996. The team will compete in Southern California Volleyball Assn. tournaments through June at various sites. Team practices will be Mondays and Wednesdays at San Clemente High. For information, call (949) 637-6467.