Briefly In Sports

Pavlik and Kropp win at Malibu Open

Laguna Beach native Whitney Pavlik and partner Jenny Kropp (Hawthorne) won the National Volleyball League’s Malibu Open women’s title Sunday at Zuma Beach. Pavlik and Kropp were the No. 1 seed in the tournament and went undefeated during the 32-team, two-day event that began Saturday.

Pavlik and Kropp advanced through the winners’ bracket and defeated Olaya Pazo (Miami, Fla.)/Kendra Van Zwieten (Coconut Creek, Fla.) in the Women’s final, 21-15, 21-16. The pair advanced to the final after scoring a 21-11, 21-18 sweep of Emily Day (Torrance)/Heather Hughes (Fallbrook).

Pavlik, a gradate of Laguna Beach High, was the 2008 Assn. of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Rookie of the Year. Kropp held that honor the previous year.

Pavlik and Kropp reached the semifinals of the inaugural NVL tournament, the Preakness, played May 20-21 in Baltimore, Md.

The next NVL tour stop, the third of six in its season, is Aug. 26-28 at Virginia Beach, Va. The only other California stop and final tour event is Sept. 23-25 in Long Beach.

*

Alumni tourney features past greats

The fifth annual Laguna Beach High Alumni Boys’ Basketball Tournament is Saturday at both the Dugger and North gymnasiums at Laguna Beach.

Breakers Coach Bret Fleming said that about 100 former players have participated in past tournament fundraisers. This year, 10 teams will be divided into two five-team pools before moving on to a single-elimination tournament. This year’s event has players who represented the program nearly 40 years ago. The 2011-12 team will vie for the title and is among several teams out to unseat the 1998-2000 squad that has won the first four tournament championships.

One game also pits the current varsity against dads of varsity players. Games start at 8:30 a.m. and each game will be officiated by referees.

Below are a few of the players representing the 10 teams, by era, scheduled for the the tournament:

2011-12 varsity: Jake Dalke, Cole Kesler, Jack Pillsbury, Paul MacCabe, Derek Reigel, Brandon Lewis, Luke Barker, Noah Blanton, Bryce Blanton, Santi Pierini

2008-2011: Marcus Hairston, Ryan Lawler, Dylan Roley

2005-2007: Jeff Clark, Cheyne Martin, Brian Delino

2004-2007: Jason Boyd, Trevor Lyle, Walt Gabbard

1997-2000: Jesse Obrand, B.J. Jameson, Chris Siriani, Travis Hanour

1994-1996: Rus Soobzokov, Kurt Nelson, Nate Pivaroff

1991-1993: Josh Borella, Taylor Butcher, Trigg Garner

1988-1990: John Trevino, Dain Blanton, Brady Butcher

1985-1987: Coby Naess, Scott Herdman, Scott Fortune

1984-older: Ben Bacon, Peter Barker, Rick Reigel

Lance Stewart and his staff at VolleyballNOW.net is offering a Setters Academy from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Dugger and North gymnasiums on the Laguna Beach High campus. The non-competitive camp is designed to teach setters how to run an offense and develop consistency in setting fundamentals. Both days of camp also include training with Russian Kettlebell Master and Master Martial Arts trainer Brian Olson. The one-hour period will focus on flexibility, core strength and explosion. Registration information can be found at https://www.VolleyballNOW.com. Walk-up registration starts at 8:45 a.m. both days.

*

Cardio Tennis sessions underway

The next Cardio Tennis workout sessions (18 and older) are underway at Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach. Sessions are on from 9 to 9:50 a.m. and 7 to 7:50 p.m. each Monday through Aug. 15. Wednesday workout sessions (9-9:50 a.m., 7-7:50 p.m.) run through Aug. 17. Information can be found at https://www.allcourttennis.com or call (949) 497-0716, ext. 6.

*

The Champions for Life Tennis and Swim Camp is underway through Aug. 15 at Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach. The camp is open to youth ages 5 to 13 and runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and includes tennis lessons, activities and lunch and a trip to the Laguna Beach High pool to close the camp. The cost is $230. United States Professional Tennis Assn. teaching pro Julie Heussenstamm is camp director. For registration information call Heussenstamm at (949) 933-4850 or the Laguna Beach Recreation Dept. at (949) 497-0716, ext. 6. Information also can be found at https://www.allcourttennis.com.