Sports In Brief
Girls’ volleyball clinics scheduled
Two youth girls’ volleyball clinics run by Laguna Beach High girls’ volleyball Coach Raul Papaleo start Monday.
The clinics are open to youth grades fifth through eighth (2015-16 school year) and run through Aug. 13 at the Laguna Beach High gymnasium.
For information, visit www.lagunabeachcity.net.
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USA poloists splits at FINA event
The USA Women’s National Team started play Sunday at the FINA World Championships and rolled to a 13-2 victory over Brazil at Kazan, Russia. Maggie Steffens (Danville/Stanford) scored a game-high three goals and Makenzie Fischer of Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach High) scored twice in the group play win.
Team USA lost its first match in a major competition when it dropped an 11-9 decision to Italy in group play Tuesday. Fischer scored late in the contest.
The U.S. closed out group play Thursday against Japan. The tournament continues Saturday with qualification play. The quarterfinals are Monday, semifinals Wednesday and the gold medal match is Aug. 7.
The USA Men’s National Team also split its first two matches at the FINA World Championships. Team USA held off host Russia in an opener Monday, 7-6. Team USA team captain Tony Azevedo (Stanford) of Long Beach and Luca Cupido (Newport Harbor High) of Newport Beach tied for game-high scoring honors with three goals apiece.
In its second group play match, Team USA lost a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter and was knocked off by Greece, 11-10. Azevedo and John Mann (Newport Beach/Cal) both scored twice and Cupido and Bret Bonanni (Huntington Beach/Stanford) each scored once.
Team USA completes group play Friday against Italy. Qualification round games are Sunday, quarterfinal games Tuesday, semifinal games Aug. 6, and the gold medal match is Aug. 8.
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The VIC dates set
Top riders both locally and around the world will be in Laguna Beach next month for the 2015 World Championships of Skimboarding. The 39th edition of The VIC will take place Aug. 29-30 at Aliso Beach.
Past competitions have drawn riders from such countries as Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, The Philippines, Chile and Spain. The VIC is the longest-running contest in skimboarding.
For information, call (949) 494-0059.
— From staff reports