Breakers net girls’ volleyball championship

With a league championship already in its possession, the Laguna Beach High girls’ volley- ball team showed no signs of slowing down Wednesday when it hosted Calvary Chapel in the season finale for both teams.

The Breakers polished off the Eagles, 25-13, 25-10, 25-7, to finish undefeated in their inaugural year in the Orange Coast League.

The league championship is the 28th for the girls’ program in 35 years of CIF competition. By winning for the ninth time in its last 10 outings, Laguna is now 22-5 overall and completed league play with a 9-0 mark.

They breezed to the title with another easy win Wednesday.

“What’s been great about this team is that they have not been playing down to the competition,” Laguna Coach Lance Stewart said. “They’ve continued to play hard and everyone’s had a chance to contribute.”

In Wednesday’s win, Zoe Garrett had nine kills and 12 aces, Alex Palmer tallied 20 assists and four aces and Dana Hutchinson finished with 12 kills.

In pervious action, Laguna dominated visiting Estancia Monday, 25-11, 25-18, 25-12, in league play. Hutchinson had 15 kills and seven digs, Garrett chipped 13 kills and five aces, Mychaela Miller tallied six digs and 13 assists and Palmer finished with 15 assists.

On Oct. 27, the Breakers also took care of host Costa Mesa in another league outing, winning 25-14, 25-16, 25-10 in a match that clinched the league title for Laguna. Garrett finished with 12 kills, Miller had 21 assists and Jilly Petersen added 11 kills.

Laguna will carry the league’s No. 1 seed into next week’s CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs. Wild-card games will be played Monday, first-round games are Tuesday and second-round action is Thursday.

The Breakers are ranked No. 2 in the division and will be among the top seeds in the playoffs. They might receive a first-round bye, Stewart said, and not play until Thursday. The playoff brackets will be revealed Sunday.

Stewart’s last two teams advanced to the semifinal round.

“If we continue to practice hard, the girls will have success in the playoffs,” Stewart added. “Basically right now, it’s all about attitude and executing. I think that this squad is prepared for what’s ahead.”