Breakers rise to the occasion

Laguna girls’ tennis, volleyball teams knock off rival Sea Kings.It was rivalry day Tuesday for the Laguna Beach High girls’ tennis and volleyball teams, and both responded with big victories.

In the afternoon, on its home courts, the tennis team handed Corona del Mar its first Pacific Coast League loss, 10-8.

In the evening, across campus at Dugger Gymnasium, the volleyball team routed the visiting Sea Kings, 25-17, 25-13, 25-20.

Girls’ Tennis

In handing Corona del Mar a 10-8 defeat, Laguna was able to atone for an 11-7 loss to the host Sea Kings on Sept. 29.

That was the only loss of the season for the Breakers, who are now 13-1 overall. They played that first match without top singles player Claire Rietsch.

Laguna is ranked third in CIF-Southern Section Division I. Corona del Mar is ranked fifth.

On Tuesday, Rietsch and the No. 2 singles player, Lyndsay Kinstler, swept the Sea Kings. Rietsch, a senior and two-time league singles champion, won by scores of 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, and Kinstler, a junior, won by scores of 6-2, 6-0, 6-0.

Despite the loss, Corona del Mar was able to clinch an outright league championship. By defeating Laguna, 11-7, in the earlier contest, the Sea Kings needed to win just eight sets in Tuesday’s match in order to win the title.

“To be honest, I’m happy that we won this match,” Laguna coach Greg Weiss said. “That was our main goal. It was a tough match. The girls hung in there and played hard. This win should give us a boost down the stretch.”

That stretch began Wednesday when the Breakers traveled to Rolling Hills Estates to batted top-ranked Peninsula in a nonleague match. Laguna, 8-1 in league play, also took on PCL foe Beckman Thursday. Those contests took place too late to be included here. The team wraps up league play with road matches Monday at University and Wednesday at Calvary Chapel.

League finals are set for Thursday and Friday, Nov. 3 and 4, and the CIF playoffs open Nov. 8. Laguna has downed Northwood, 12-8, in league action. The Breakers’ top doubles tandem of Katie Ochwat and Kellie Ammerman earned a sweep, and Kinstler did the same at No. 2 singles.

Girls’ Volleyball

Playing up to the potential that coach Lance Stewart always thought possible, Laguna swept past Corona del Mar.

The win improved the Breakers’ league record to 8-1 and their overall mark to 18-6.

The sweep also marked the first time since the 2001 season that Laguna has defeated the Sea Kings. Corona del Mar, which handed Laguna its lone league loss on Sept. 29, fell to 5-5 in the league and 5-11 overall.

“We’re starting to become the team that I thought we’d become awhile ago,” Stewart said. “We’re hitting our stride at the right time of the season.”

Laguna, ranked fourth in Division IV-AA, cruised past the Sea Kings Tuesday. The entire Breakers lineup had a hand in the sweep. Defensive specialist Paige Obradovich, a sophomore, and freshman defensive specialist Alex Palmer came up big in the back court.

Junior setter Mykaela Miller, who sat out the first part of the season due to injury, played what Stewart called her “best match to date.”

“Everyone contributed to this win,” Stewart said. “Paige and Alex were outstanding with their serving and digging, and Mykaela did a great job. Our serving was just incredible.”

Outside hitters Stephanie Darnall and Dana Hutchinson menaced the Sea Kings at the net. Darnall finished with 13 kills and five aces, and Hutchinson had 18 kills, two aces and seven digs.

Obradovich had three aces and six digs, and Miller had two aces, two kills and 32 set assists. Zoe Garrett recorded six digs and six aces. The victory clinched a postseason playoff berth for Laguna, which will be entering CIF play in November for the 32nd time in the 34-year history of the girls’ volleyball playoffs.

“I’m very happy with this win and the way the girls played,” Stewart said. “Championships are not won in September or October. They are won in November.”

November arrives Tuesday, a day when Laguna travels to Irvine to take on University in a match that more than likely will determine the Pacific Coast League champion. The Breakers close out their regular season Thursday at Calvary Chapel.

Tonight, the girls’ volleyball team will take on the school’s alumni at 7 p.m. at Dugger Gymnasium.20051028iozserkn(LA)20051028iozse0knPHOTOS BY KENT TREPTOW / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Claire Rietsch returns a serve during Tuesday’s match against the Corona del Mar Sea Kings. Below, Laguna Beach’s Katie Ochwat, playing doubles with Paige Polizois, hits a forehand. Laguna emerged victorious, 10-8.