Boys pick up 2 wins

The Laguna Beach boys’ volleyball team picked up a pair of wins in back-to-back Orange Coast League matches against Calvary Chapel played Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Breakers defeated the Eagles on Calvary’s home court Tuesday, winning 20-25, 27-25, 25-9, 25-15.

They came back Wednesday to again defeat the Eagles, this time by scores of 24-26, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19 at Dugger Gym.

Laguna Coach Lance Stewart said the Eagles put up more of a fight than his team expected.

“Calvary Chapel has vastly improved,” he said. “We didn’t expect as much [resistance] as we got.

“They played with a lot of energy, and we had a hard time matching it. They gave us everything we wanted, and more.”

In both matches, the Breakers were overtaken by the Eagles in the first game. They had trouble keeping the ball in-bounds and couldn’t overcome Calvary’s solid play.

“They have some great athletes that serve and block well,” Stewart said.

However, Laguna turned both matches around and came back to win the next three games, the final two in each handily.

Stewart said his team is getting better with each match but still have some things to work on, such as ball control.

“We play with intensity and focus, and that’s what you’ve got to do to get on a roll for the playoffs,” he said. “But we’re not quite up to standard for that yet.”

In the two matches, Shawn Merz and Lorenzo Torriero had 43 and 32 kills, respectively.

Merz also had 31 digs, followed by Harrison Phelps with 30 and Cooper Gwaltney with 25. Clay Knapp recorded 87 assists.

In previous nonleague action, the Breakers were handed a 22-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-16, 15-11 loss by Newport Harbor on the Sailors home court on April 26.

Merz had 29 kills. Phelps finished with 18 digs, and Knapp had 48 assists.

Laguna hosts Costa Mesa at 5 p.m. today in league play.