Laguna Beach Boys' Tennis Preview

By Mike Sciacca

Feb. 28, 2013 12 AM PT

The Laguna Beach High boys’ tennis team jumps right into the foray of the 2013 season by playing six matches over a 10-day period.

The Breakers return several key ingredients from a 2012 team that last year reached the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 tournament under first-year head coach Don Davis. Among those returning are the top two singles players, All-CIF player and Orange Coast League champion Teague Hamilton, and league finalist and runner-up to the singles title, Morgan Lebby.

Below is a capsule look at the Breakers.

Head coach: Don Davis (second year)

2012 finish: League champion (8-0)

CIF playoff results: Reached quarterfinal round Division 4.

Returning players: Teague Hamilton, No. 1 singles, Sr.; Morgan Lebby, No. 2 singles, Sr.; Alex Duong, Jr.; Oliver Nasiell, Sr.; Matt Meisberger, Sr.; Jared Boetes, Sr.; Zach Pratto, Sr.; Noah Radach, Jr.; Andrew Koumas, Sr.; Tim Nguyen, Jr.; Jeff Spitz, Jr.

Returning all-league players: Hamilton (All-CIF), Lebby, Duong, Meisberger, Boetes, Pratto, Radach, Koumas.

The schedule: “Our nonleague matches are typically (against) Division 1 and Division 2 teams, which are very challenging for us,” Davis said. “But, we need to play these teams, since we have such an outstanding player in Teague Hamilton, and they field singles players who are able to challenge him.”

Team tidbits: Senior Owen Weber, who played two years ago on the team, returns to the lineup. Davis said Weber will team with freshman Ryan Gee to form Laguna’s top doubles team and “will help the team tremendously,” he said. Davis called Hamilton an “elite tennis player” who is “someone to watch,” during the CIF Individual Sectionals in May.

Coach’s outlook: “We should be the team to beat in league, and a stronger team than last season’s quarterfinal showing in CIF,” Davis said.

Season opener: lost, 14-4, to San Clemente Monday.

The Schedule

Tuesday: at Mission Viejo, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Mater Dei, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Newport Harbor, 3 p.m.

March 12: *Saddleback, 3 p.m.

March 14: at *Estancia, 3 p.m.

March 19: at Dana Hills, 3 p.m.

March 21: vs. *Godinez, 3 p.m. (at Santa Ana Valley High)

March 26: at *Costa Mesa, 3 p.m.

March 27: vs. Whitney, 3 p.m. (at Cerritos Sports Complex)