Laguna looks for win

Two schools with prominent volleyball pedigrees clash tonight when Laguna Beach hosts Huntington Beach in boys’ nonleague action.

Match time is 6 p.m. at Dugger Gym.

Laguna is looking to notch its first win of the young season — which opened for the Breakers on Feb. 22 — against an Oilers squad that is 1-0.

“They have a lot of fire power in Tony Ciarelli,” Laguna Coach Lance Stewart said of Huntington’s leader, a senior outside hitter who will play at USC next year. “He’s just a phenomenal player. We’ll need to stop him and do the little things right, in order to win this match.”

Stewart saw a little bit of everything when Laguna launched its season last Friday when the Breakers dropped a 25-17, 25-18, 15-25, 25-22 match to visiting Edison.

Laguna came into the match ranked fifth in the Division II preseason poll while Edison was rated eighth in Division I.

“I thought we played really good the last two games,” Stewart said. “Actually, we played OK the first two games but we’re steady enough.”

Cooper Gwaltney led Laguna with 16 kills, and Lorenzo Torriero contributed 11 kills.

Clay Knapp recorded 38 assists.

Huntington, meanwhile, began its season Tuesday and swept Dana Hills.

The Oilers are coached by Ciarelli’s father, Rocky, who is in his 25th year as head coach at his alma mater.

Rocky Ciarelli will retire at the end of the season.

A strong nucleus of returnees includes all-league players Gwaltney, Knapp, Sean Merz, Mike Kahl and Seth Morris.

“We have lots of high school experience but have to overcome our lack of club experience,” Stewart said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but this is a talented team and I’m excited about the season.”

The Laguna homestand continues into next week when the Breakers host Woodbridge in a nonleague match at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.